FORMER North Yorkshire policewoman Emma Colman is finding that Nato action against Serbia is affecting her job with the Missions To Seamen in Japan.

Emma Colman

Emma, 30, from Lebberston, near Filey, used to pound the beat in Harrogate.

She is now working in Kobe as a chaplain's assistant with the Missions To Seamen, a missionary society of the Anglican Church which cares for seafarers of all nationalities and faiths in 300 ports worldwide.

Among the ships she visits is one with a Croatian crewman who was due to sign off but, because of the conflict in the Balkans, has been unable to fly home.

Emma said: "He is worried because his wife tells him the news from Yugoslav television, which contradicts the news from the BBC and CNN. He does not know what to believe, nor who to trust.

"As you can appreciate, this is a very worrying time for many of the eastern European seafarers. Russian and Ukrainian crews have been asking for newspapers so that they can catch up with what's happening."

Emma added: "Please remember them in your prayers."

As reported in the Evening Press earlier this year, Emma has become the first non-Japanese member of the Kobe City Orchestra. She said: "The orchestra is excellent. I am playing third bassoon in Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring and second bassoon in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Emma has decided to extend her one-year placement in Japan by another 12 months and is busy learning the language.

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