String of unfortunate events has Dundee family reeling

A Dundee family has been left reeling following a string of unfortunate events related to the coronavirus.

Mike Strachan has seen his business close, his son’s wedding in China and the rescheduled marriage in Dundee both cancelled and has now been hit with a £395 bill after cancelling the bus to the stag party in Glasgow.

Mr Strachan, 57, who lives in Castle Huntly, said the run of bad luck has made him all the more determined to enjoy his 26-year-old son Dean’s wedding when it finally happens.

Dean has been living and teaching in China for the past two years and met his fiancé Feng Rui Xue there.

Mr Strachan said: “The original plan was for Dean to get married in China in August but this was put on hold as they couldn’t get back there, after being on vacation here, due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

“However because they were here they decided to reverse the plan and get married in Dundee at the Queen’s Hotel on March 27.

“We had already paid a deposit of £95 and the balance of £300 from SMC Coach Hire to take 12 of us to Glasgow for the stag do.”

The Dundee wedding was then postponed, and after the government

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The original plan was for Dean to get married in China in August.

MIKE STRACHAN

statement about non-essential travel Mr Strachan decided to cancel the stag do – explaining this to the bus company and asking for the balance back while forfeiting the deposit.

He added: “They refused on the basis of their terms and conditions.”

Mr Strachan was then forced to close the popular Beiderbeckes Bistro in Dundee.

Co-owned with Bob Colston, the Brook Street restaurant is shutting its doors to visiting customers to protect staff and customers from potential illness.

They have instead come up with a home delivery plan which it is hoped will be operating by the weekend.

They said the announcement had been met with a supportive reaction.

The small business employs five or six staff and a couple of casual workers and the move will at least give key workers the opportunity to keep a job and give them a wage.

Mr Strachan said Dean still intends to get married in China once the travel restrictions are waived.

He said travelling there to watch his son tie the knot would provide some light at the end of the tunnel.

Manchester-based SMC Coach Hire said it was acting as per its terms and conditions.