Walsall firm saddles up to help Oklahoma tornado victim

But incredibly, despite tens of thousands of homes being destroyed by its force, a saddle made in Walsall has emerged as one of the few items to have remained in one piece despite being battered in the torrential storm.

Jim Miller lost his home, his barn, his truck and two horses to the tornado. But the pensioner, from Harrah, Oklahoma found his saddle stuck up in a tree a mile away from his home three days after the tornado struck.

The saddle had been picked up and carried by the May 19 tornado before it dropped into into the tree.

Mr Miller moved from Missouri to Oklahoma to be nearer his family, including two children and six grandchildren.

He had been in his new home for less than a month before disaster struck and he lost everything.

It was the first time he had ever caught sight of a tornado when he became caught up in the one that destroyed his home. He is now in the process of rebuilding his life and finding somewhere new to live.

After the weather calmed, Mr Miller contacted Walsall-based Ryder Saddles to tell them the extraordinary tale and asked if there was any way the saddle could be fixed.

Although the original is beyond total repair, Ryder's owner Glen Farnell has promised to make Mr Miller a new saddle for free.

Retired horse trainer Mr Miller said he felt blessed that he had found his saddle – despite the devastation that has seen him lose his home.

The 69-year-old said: "I lost everything in that tornado and I didn't have any insurance because I'd only just moved in.

"I was at home at the time. We heard on the news that there was a tornado heading our way.

"I went out to the barn to let my horses free so they could have a chance to run away from it. Sadly I lost two of them.

"Three days after the tornado I walked and walked to try and find any of my possessions.

"I then saw my saddle up in the tree.

"It's wonderful that I found the saddle and a beautiful gesture that Glen is going to replace it for me for free."

Mr Farnell, who runs his business in Navigation Street with wife Suzanne, 55, said that the new saddle would be ready in the next few weeks.

Mr Farnell, aged 56, said: "We made the saddle for this guy about 12 months ago and sent it over to America.

"We heard about the tornado on the TV. Then we had the phone call to say the saddle had been damaged in the tornado.

"We couldn't believe it when we heard the saddle had been carried for a mile and was found up in a tree."

Mr Farnell added: "This guy lost everything in that tornado, his home, barn and his horses.

"The least I could do was make him a new saddle.

"The one that was found up in the tree was wrecked but it was still in one piece.

"We said that we would replace it for free because he had lost everything else."