Chance in a million leads to return of Edinburgh family heirloom
An Edinburgh pensioner is celebrating the return of a long-lost family heirloom – in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Betty Roy, a resident at Queens Manor care home, was gifted a book on the history of the city’s fire service, only to discover it had originally belonged to her father, whose photograph has pride of place in her room.
The book by Alexander Reid, entitled ‘ Aye Ready, The History of Edinburgh Fire Brigade, The Oldest Municipal Brigade in Britain’, was given to Betty as a Christmas present by her carer Clarissa, who stumbled across it online in her search for a personal and meaningful gift.
She decided it would be perfect for Betty, who often spoke about her late father Robert Thomas Wylie, an Assistant Fire Officer at Lauriston Fire Station during the 1930s.
When Betty showed the book to her son Ivor, he instantly recognised it as one he had inadvertently donated to a charity shop – many miles from Queens Manor – with other items that had belonged to his grandfather. He even found a letter sent to Robert still secreted among its pages.
Describing its return as a chance in a million, Ivor said: “I couldn’t believe it when Betty told me she had a copy of the book. When she showed it to me, I realised it was the original copy given to me from my Grandfather’s things, because inside it contained an original letter with coupons which he had never cashed in.
"I recognised the piece of paper and the edges where it had been inserted in to the book all those years ago. I didn’t even realise until that day that the book was no longer in my house.”
Margaret-Ann Davidson, general manager at Queens Manor, on Queensferry Road, said: “This is a fantastic example of a person-centred gift, made even more special by the provenance.
“There must have been many copies of the book, and for the family copy to find its way back to Betty and Ivor is incredible. We’re very lucky to share in this story.
“all of our residents have lived interesting lives and we love to hear all about it. This is a truly extraordinary coincidence and I’m sure it will be shared at many a family dinner table for years to come.”