A Tayside village has enjoyed a heartwarming pandemic lift after OAP sweethearts tied the knot to seal their lockdown love story.
Ann Marshall and Jim Balneaves were the toast of St Madoes in the Carse of Gowrie on Friday as they made their vows in the church centre which played a part in bringing the pair together.
While planning a socially-distanced wedding would be a big enough task for most, the popular pair have managed to each sell their houses and buy their first home together in the weeks since Jim popped the question.
Through shared passions including music and the church centre, the pair began to spend more time with each other.
When lockdown arrived, Ann and Jim decided to move in together rather than be forced apart by the coronavirus restrictions.
Within weeks, Dundee-born Jim had asked Ann to marry him and the ceremony went ahead at the Madoch Centre in front of a small gathering of family and friends, with St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church minister Marc Bircham officiating.
Ann was driven to the wedding by her son, Dorian, who also lives in the village with wife Yvonne, and her grown-up grandchildren Katie, Fraser and Galactica were also at the happy event.
Ann said: “I was born in Worcester and my two witnesses were Anne Davies and Jennifer Muir, who also went to Worcester Grammar but I have got to know since I moved up here.”
She added: “Jim has lived in the village for years so everybody knows him and the people have been really wonderful.
“We had to stick to all the rules for the wedding which included no singing, but so many people have helped out.
“And during all of this we have sold both of our houses in the last three weeks. Jim’s sold within a fortnight and mine then went on the market and sold the next day, and we have bought another house in the village.
“It has all been a bit odd, but it’s been absolutely fine – Jim doesn’t do stress.
“We won’t be going away after the wedding – but perhaps we could do with a little bit of time to relax,” said Ann.
