PINNER peace-campaigner Norman Kember celebrated his freedom by singing hymns and chatting to parishioners at the Harrow church he has attended for more than 40 years on Sunday.

Just a day after touching down on British soil, Professor Kember, 74, and his wife Pat, 72, of Cuckoo Hill Road, attended a service at Harrow Baptist Church in College Road.

The father-of-two smiled broadly as he listened to minister, Reverend Bob Gardiner.

Reverend Gardiner, 59, said he was surprised but delighted that Professor Kember made it to church.

"Norman was quite insistent, if he was free then he should be free to worship," he said.

He wanted to "creep in to worship God quietly and peacefully, and creep out quietly without having a great circus around him", Mr Gardiner said.

A message of support from the leader of the Harrow mosque was also read out.

During the service, the Kembers sat next to close friends John and Jean Newby.

Mrs Newby said: "It is fantastic. We are over the moon. He has not been able to worship with fellow Christians in four whole months.

"It is lovely he has been able to join us."

Church secretary Mr Newby said: "I've been a friend of Norman's for 35 years and I have been very emotional.

"I cried quietly to myself when Tom Fox, the American captured with Norman. was killed and began to feel very pessimistic.

"But when I found out about Norman I was over-joyed. Words can't express how happy we are at the church."

When Professor Kember was abducted, on November 26 last year, a lamp was lit at the church for him. Mr Newby said the "waiting light" was incorporated into the service.

Mr Newby described Professor Kember as a thoughtful man, interested in all religions and science.

"I was quite surprised when he said he was going to Iraq," he said.

"If he had asked me I would have said Don't do it'. But that's Norman. He wouldn't have taken advice from a pessimist like me. He is a great optimist."

Professor Kember spent the rest of the day at his quiet suburban home, away from the media glare.

In a statement, Mr Kember said he did not want to talk about his incarceration and wanted to be left alone to reflect on his experiences.

He did reveal that he had kept a diary throughout his ordeal.

The pensioner was flown back to Britain on Saturday afternoon.

On Friday, his wife told a New Zealand radio station about her first words with her husband.

"He was very, very pleased to be free, but he was very emotional in talking to me," she said.

"I think he must have been very worried about me and the family and he was pleased to be able to talk to me."

Mrs Kember thanked the individuals and religious groups who had sent her messages of support about her husband.

She said: "The support I have had from everybody has been so wonderful. In England every church and denomination has been having vigils of prayer and I cannot fault them."

She said she had never expected her husband to be kidnapped when he told her he was going to Iraq.

"I thought when he wanted to go to Iraq he was a bit silly but on the other hand I knew he felt he must do something and he is getting old," she said.

"If he doesn't do something specific it would be too late.

"But I thought he might be blown up by a bomb, I did not really expect him to be taken hostage."