Families from New Zealand whose ancestors originated from Deal have joined a former Manwood’s pupil for a film he is making.

In September, the Mercury featured a story about Jerry Vyse, 21, from Middle Street, who was embarking on a quest to discover descendants of Deal boatmen who sailed across the world in 1858 and settled in a town named Timaru on the South Island.

After 13 weeks of travelling through 18 countries on a tour called the Oz Bus, Jerry arrived in Sydney, Australia in December.

Since then, he went on to New Zealand where he discovered the area the migrants once lived has been dedicated to their memory and called Deal Street.

“I have a meeting arranged with five families whose ancestors were the Deal boatmen and I will be giving a talk,” Mr Vyse said. “I have filmed everything for a film which I hope to show at the Astor Theatre when I return and I plan to write a book as well.”

The proceeds of the film will be used to help Deal Town FC, and Iranian, Pakistani and Timaru football teams. Money raised from the book will go to help a Deal organisation and the main museum in Timaru.

Before arriving, Jerry had already accrued the interest of the local paper, the Timaru Herald which printed an article of his trip.