Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Family gathering is put on hold
Lockdown thwarts four-generation get-together
Coatbridge man William Frederick celebrated in unusual closed- doors circumstances as he marked his 90th birthday during the coronavirus lockdown.
Social distancing meant he turned to video calls to allow him to enjoy the special occasion along with relatives – including his daughter Allyson O’Neill, who shares the same birthday and lives just doors away on the same street in Townhead.
He had originally planned a weekend away at Loch Lomond with four generations of his family to mark the double birthday celebration along with more 2020 family landmarks; but instead spent his big birthday safely at home with beloved wife Alice.
The couple, who will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in September, are usually surrounded by family – daughters Allyson and Adrienne, who respectively married Alan O’Neill and David Henry, grandchildren Elise, Allyson, Georgia and Luke, and new eight-month-old great-grandson Oran.
Known as Bill, the 90- year- old told the Advertiser: “We were all planning to go to Loch Lomond for a couple of days earlier this month for my birthday, my daughter’s and my granddaughter who is 30 this year.
“It was going to be a family affair and that was our holiday for this year.
“That’s all snookered at the moment but we hope we can catch up at some time.
“For my birthday I was able to use video calls to talk to all the family and to see our grandchildren. My good wife, Alice, and I are very fortunate that we’re both of reasonable health so we’re still able to do quite a lot.
“Our family are very good to us and look after us very well, bringing us things and doing lots of coming and going, and their support is probably the reason we’ve done so well.”
His granddaughter, Allyson MacGregor, said: “We were all disappointed not to be able to go away together, as my granddad loves getting out around Scotland and was a member of Monklands Ramblers when he was younger.
“It would have been a great thing to have family time together to celebrate his 90th birthday, but everybody is in the same boat and we’re hoping to be able to do it later in the year.
“For now we’re all just trying to keep our distance; my grandparents haven’t been out the door since all this began but they’re in high spirits, and sharp as tacks so they’re using videos and WhatsApp to keep in touch and see photos online.
“Today is my mum’s birthday too and she only lives a couple of doors away from my granddad. My parents have been delivering shopping so on his birthday it was a wave through the window!
“It will be great when we’re finally able to get together, and all the family just wants to wish him a happy 90th birthday.”
Bill was born on April 15, 1930, at the family home on Stewart Street and has lived for his whole life in Coatbridge – adding: “I’ve only moved two miles in my life, from where I was born to the house we’re in now!
“I moved to Lochgreen Place with my mum and dad and met the girl next door. After Alice and I got married we moved to this house, where we’ve lived for 62 years.
“Coatbridge has changed a lot in that time – the industry is all gone now and it’s a different place.”
Bill attended Greenhill Primary, Coatbridge High and the town’s technical college, where he trained as an electrical engineer.
He began and ended his career at local firm EJ Stiell, also working in between at Inver House distillery and Associated British Maltsters in Airdrie.
He and Alice were married in the Congregational Church on Albert Street in September 1955. They are lifelong members of Townhead Parish Church, and Bill has been involved over the years with Monklands camera club and local art classes as well as being part of Monklands Ramblers.