Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Kind offer revives anniversary event
WHEN the pandemic put paid to the blue sapphire wedding anniversary plans of Dundee couple John and Phyllis Nicoll they thought they would have to celebrate quietly.
But thanks to a city restaurant owner the couple now have serious party plans in the pipeline for later this year once strict virus rules ease.
Jimmy Marr has offered the couple a chance to join family and friends to mark it in style at 172 at the Caird. The couple will also be taken to and from the restaurant in a Bentley.
Mr Nicoll said: “This amazing offer has left me speechless. I am completely overwhelmed.
“I wasn’t expecting anything like this at all it is absolutely wonderful of Mr Marr to make us this offer.”
Jimmy said: “When I read the story about the couple who had been married for 65 years but couldn’t get out to celebrate I just thought how lovely it would be to try to do something for them.
“Once we can open up again I would like to get Mr and Mrs Nicoll and some of their friends and family along to the hotel for a very special evening.
“They can either select a quiet table for themselves and their son and daughter and partners or they could hold a slightly bigger party in one of the function rooms and I will be happy to provide the buffet.”
The couple wed at a hotel on Perth Road on Hogmanay 65 years ago and Mr Marr said it would be lovely to have them back in almost the same location for the event.
John, 83, and wife Phyllis, 87, met on the Toblerone line at the Keiller factory in Dundee, where Phyllis worked on chocolate moulds and John was an almond crusher.
John said: “We were married on Hogmanay in 1955 and we had a reception in a hotel on Perth Road, but I can’t remember the name of it.
“It’s going to be lovely to go back to the Perth Road for our belated anniversary celebrations.
“I think we would prefer a quiet dinner with our son Johnny and his partner Ellen and daughter Carol and husband Colin.”