An elderly couple finally reunited after eight months apart due to the pandemic – just in time to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.
William McMeechan, 80, had to see wife Margaret, 78, through a window of the care home where she lives due to being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Mum-of-five Margaret was diagnosed on April 6 last year and was transferred into Airthrey Care Home near Falkirk on July 13.
William, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), was so distraught he took a while to be able to visit her but began visiting every Monday.
Care home staff noticed how excited Margaret would be at the prospect of seeing her husband, who lives in Fallin, Stirling.
They were able to be reunited indoors for their 60th wedding anniversary on April 7.
The couple have no photos of their wedding at Cowie Parish Church in 1961 as they were unable to afford a photographer, and guests went round to Margaret’s mum’s house for steak pie and drinks.
SWNS via SWNSTheir daughter, Helen Laird, 56, said the reunion was perfect, and said her parents were still in love decades after they met on the dancefloor at The Plaza in Stirling.
Mum-of-two Helen said: “At the start dad couldn’t cope with visiting mum, as he was scared because of her dementia.
“He was broken-hearted.
“Dad was left in the house on his own with chronic COPD. He has one lung that works and one kidney that works.
“He started visiting though, every Monday. The care staff told me mum was creeping out of her room to see if he was coming, she was that excited.
“The home arranged for my parents to have an afternoon tea for their diamond anniversary.
“We were told the rest of the family could go up for the last ten minutes and get some pictures.
“The care home was fantastic.”
The staff decorated the room with pictures taken throughout Margaret’s life.
Helen added: “She was remembering things from her past by looking at all the pictures.
“They also got her a gift, a frame of everything that happened in 1961.
“My dad was just overwhelmed with joy, they both really needed this.”
The couple have 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Helen said: “The letter from the Queen was sent to my dad’s address, and he waited to open it with my mum.
“My mum was so excited, but also got a bit confused and she thought the Queen had been to see her.
“She was running about telling everyone the Queen had visited.
“They met at the dancing at The Plaza in Stirling and have been in love ever since.
“The celebration of the diamond wedding anniversary meant so much to both of them, they have both been through so much.”
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