SOUTHAMPTON grandparents share “breath-taking” moment they got to hug their grandchildren after eight months apart, in a new campaign video.
When lockdown hit, families across the UK had to endure months on end without seeing loved ones, and for Southampton grandparents Nick Plowright, 64 and Lou Plowright, 55, the time apart created a “big gaping hole” in their hearts.
‘Nanny Lou’ and ‘Big Grandad’ as they are affectionately known have only seen their grandchildren Archie, aged 10 and Ava Rollini, aged nine, twice since last March with lockdown, restrictions and the 85-mile distance making it impossible.
Nick explained to the Echo that money and age also played a factor in the long separation: “We are getting to an age now where we don’t really want to drive that far and we are retired so money isn’t easily available.”
Lou added: “Since we haven’t seen Avia and Archie, I feel that we have lost our energy. The kids normally bring so much noise and laugher into our home and we just want to get that back.
“We’ve become very old since lockdown, we need them back in our life to give us that energy and make us feel youthful again. We cannot wait to spend time doing all the things we love and be around Ava and Archie’s infectious enthusiasm once again.”
But the couple’s dreams have come true after the lucky Southampton pair won a Grand Reunion ticket with Megabus.
As part of a campaign by the coach operator, the grandparents won a year’s worth of free travel on the network to reconnect with their loved ones.
Nick said: “The moment we stepped off the bus was just breath-taking, they bounded towards us and nearly knocked us over! Seeing them again after so long bought a tear to my eyes.”
Lou said: “To be able to see them and touch them was amazing, we had the biggest, longest family hug. There is so much you don’t gage over facetime - they have both grown so much!"
Hoping to bring a smile to kids’ faces up and down the country, the megabus Grand Reunion ticket is now available for 10 sets of grandparents.
To apply for the chance to win a Grand Reunion ticket click here.
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