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Charity book tells of Elgin surgeon's journey to remember


By Staff Reporter

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A BOOK which opens the page on a far-flung childhood adventure experienced by a retired Moray surgeon has gone on sale, with proceeds going to charity.

When Grampa was a Boy was presented to Alastair Coutts by his family to mark his 70th birthday, which falls on Christmas Eve.

Written by his wife Liz, the 40-page story recounts an adventurous journey from boarding school in Scotland to his childhood home in Uganda.

It was the 1950s and Alastair, who was aged just 8, travelled on his own, accompanied by his teddy.

Retired surgeon Alastair Coutts, who is the subject of a new charity book entitled When Granpa was a Boy, written by his wife Liz as a special 70th birthday present. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Retired surgeon Alastair Coutts, who is the subject of a new charity book entitled When Granpa was a Boy, written by his wife Liz as a special 70th birthday present. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Nowadays a direct flight takes 8-9 hours, but in those days there were fuel stops in London, Rome, Cairo and Khartoum

Mrs Coutts said: "My husband has been telling the story endlessly and with great relish of how the plane was delayed and he was looked after by a succession of air hostesses in London, Rome, Cairo and Khartoum.

"He was taken sightseeing and stayed variously in hotels and in Rome at the air hostesses home.

"The journey, which should have taken around 24 hours, took four days.

"Meanwhile his frantic parents had little news of his whereabouts and his mum ran across the runway to greet him.

"I had a eureka moment last year sometime as I listened (again) to the story being told and decided that I would publish the story as a children’s illustrated book as a somewhat different 70th birthday present for my husband."

Artist and illustrator Sophie Martin took up the mantle and the book was presented to Alastair at the start of December.

Already, 150 copies have sold, with a proportion of the profits donated to Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity.

Mrs Coutts said: "We sadly have a close connection with the charity Sands, as one of our granddaughters was stillborn, and the charity greatly supported our family."

Copies of the book can be purchased at Yeadon's of Elgin, based on Commerce Street.

Sands' freephone helpline – 0808 164 3332 – will be operating over the festive period to offer support to parents and families in Scotland and anyone affected by the death of a baby.

It is open on Monday, December 23 from 9.30am-5pm; Tuesday, December 24 from 10am-2pm; Friday, December 27 from 9.30am-5.30pm; Monday, December 30 from 9.30pm-5.30pm; Tuesday, December 31 from 10am-2pm; Thursday, January 2 from 9.30am-9.30pm and Friday, January 3 from 9.30am-5.30pm. Bereaved parents and their families can also email the helpline at helpline@sands.org.uk

Outside of the helpline opening hours there are other ways that Sands can provide support.

For example, by joining the online community of bereaved parents, downloading the Sands mobile app and the new Bereavement Support Book from the Sands website – www.sands.org.uk/support.


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