Familyy reunion is big surprise
Top telly show reunites siblings after eight long years
Two Burnside ladies were television stars for a night when they appeared on Surprise Surprise.
Iris Kerr ( 75), from Berwick Drive, nominated her best friend Jean Coleman (65), from East Kilbride Road, to thank her for her continuous support and friendship over the last 30 years, as she has battled ovarian cancer for the last 17 years.
The pair - who run the sequence dancing club that meets each week in the Eastfield Community Centre - were invited to London where they got to do the Argentine Tango with former Strictly Come Dancing stars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace on the show.
And while Iris thought she was doing her friend a turn, there was a real surprise in store for herself, as she had a reunion with her brother who now lives in Australia.
In 1997 Iris was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was given three months to live. She battled through it and one year later was given the all clear. Sadly in 2007 the cancer returned, but she went into remission for a second time. In 2012 Iris was given the horrendous news that the cancer had returned again. She continues, however, to amaze her consultants as two years on she is still fighting the disease.
Iris said: “I had gone in to the ITV Player looking for a programme, and I saw an advert flashing for Surprise Surprise, saying, ‘Do you want to surprise someone?’ I clicked on it and downloaded the form to have a look at it.
“I decided it was a pretty easy form to fill in, and thought I would do this for Jean because we’ve been friends for so long and over the last 17 years since I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she’s been there for me, 24-7.”
Jean joked: “It’s like a marriage! We’re worse than a married couple!”
Iris continued: “Over the last few years, we’ve laughed together in the happy times, and we’ve cried together when there’s been a lot of sadness.
“I was first diagnosed in 1997, and was quite ill at that point. It took me a while to get back on my feet and try to get my life together again. Then, I was given the devastating news a decade later that it had come back again - unforunately, it’s a cancer that you never lose despite having treatment.
“I came through the surgery and chemotherapy, and I was just as determined as before to get through it.
“Unfortunately, it came back again in 2012, and there’s nothing more they can do to help me - I can’t have any more surgery or chemo, as my body just won’t be able to take it.
“I’m now on quality of life with my cancer, and I’m very lucky that for the last two-and-a-half years it’s been reasonably good.
“I have to take a tablet, but one day I know that it will stop working, but right now, I’m just living for the moment and enjoying it as best as I can.” Jean said: “She’s the best friend I could ever want to have. “We first met when I went along to her fitness classes when she was running them, years ago, and then we started working together, by chance.
“We both worked for Langside College at the Woodside Campus in Rutherglen, and we
actually enjoyed going to work together.”
Iris - hugging Jean - added: “She’s just like the sister I never had. I love her to bits.”
Iris sees Jean as her rock who has been by her side throughout her illness. Using their shared passion for dancing they voluntarily run a dance class that provides fitness and fun for elderly people in their local community.
So there was a real surprise for Jean on July 30.
Iris explained: “We came down as normal on the Wednesday,y but she ggot her surprise when Mark Wrightg (current Strictlyy Come Dancing contestant) was there. Then, the curtains on the stage opened up, and Vincent and Flavia were there on the stage, doing an Argentine tango for us. They then invited us down to London to join them.”
Professional dancers Vincent and Flavia give the ladies their unforgettable surprise by performing a tango routine with them in the Surprise Surprise studio.
Jean said: “We had to get up and dance before the audience, which wasn’t what we’re used to, but it was a great experience. It was just amazing.”
Then Iris herself was surprised by an unexpected guest who travelled all the way from Australia to watch their performance, as her brother Gordon Cross, and his wife Jan, were revealed.
Iris said: “It was an amazing surprise. They live in Adelaide, South Australia, and it was eight years since I had seen my brother.
“They could never have afforded to come to Scotland so this was really special for them.
“When we flew back up from London, they flew back with us and stayed for four weeks - it was just an amazing time. What wonderful treasured memories we have.”
The pair continue to keep the sequence dancing class at Eastfield going each Wednewsday, from 2-3.30pm, where a warm welcome, a cup of tea and a biscuit awaits.