A devoted couple who spent their 60th wedding anniversary apart because of covid have enjoyed a special celebration a year later.
Ken McGinley couldn’t visit his wife Alice in Cochrane Castle Care Home to celebrate their milestone anniversary last April because of lockdown restrictions.
Easter Island veteran Ken, from Johnstone, was classed as high-risk so couldn’t make a visit to the home. Instead staff at Asda Linwood gifted the couple a cake and their daughter Louise took it to the home.
Now, with restrictions easing, Asda staff decided to pull out all the stops and give the couple a celebration to remember.
Asda Linwood’s community champion Claire Mackie arranged a vintage car, a Champagne reception and an afternoon of pampering for the inseparable couple.
Former Royal Engineer Ken, 83, said: “It was fantastic. I’d like to thank Asda and Claire from the bottom of my heart for what they have done.
“They did a marvellous job for us – it’s one of the best celebrations we’ve ever had and was very moving.
“When everyone was taking photos of Alice and I with the 60 sign above us that was the icing on the cake.
“The Asda staff and the care home staff were absolutely brilliant. Everything was so well organised.
“The car had white ribbons on the front and there was a bottle of champagne in the back and it was decked out with flowers too. It was really beautiful. When we drove to the care home all the staff were waiting with their cameras.
“Everyone thought it was a great day. All the staff and the other residents enjoyed it too. Over the past two year there has been very, very little entertainment in there because of the pandemic so this was brilliant.”
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Ken and Alice met in Parducci’s cafe, in Johnstone High Street, when he was home on leave in 1957. He went back to his station with the Royal Engineers in the Pacific Ocean and they wrote to each other regularly.
They married over 60 years ago at St Margaret’s Church, in Johnstone, after three years of courtship.
Alice, 77, sadly developed dementia and moved into Cochrane Care Home in Elderslie just over two years ago.
Ken was exposed to five nuclear tests on Christmas Island. He was among 55 soldiers from the Paisley area who suffered serious health problems after the UK detonated its biggest-ever bomb – codenamed Grapple Y – on April 28, 1958.
He has since campaigned for more recognition and compensation in light of what the young men were exposed to. Notable cancers believed to have been caused by the testing include leukaemia, multiple myeloma, thyroid and various melanomas.
Asda’s community champion Claire said: “Ken and Alice and everyone at the home had a great time. They loved it all and had an absolutely fantastic day.
“Ken and Alice are just so lovely. It was the first time that I’d seen them both since last year and it was so amazing. The stories Ken can tell from his life are just phenomenal.
“All the carers and everyone at the home deserved the special day too for all that they’ve gone through.
“They’ve been everyone’s family and friends through all this, as the residents have not been able to see anyone. It’s been such a tough time for them all.”
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