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Regional press news - this story published 09 August 2006

Weekly comes to aid of elderly couple facing the rest of their lives apart

by holdthefrontpage staff

An elderly couple who were separated by social workers after almost 69 years together have thanked the Macclesfield Express for reuniting them.

An exclusive front page story in the Express told how Syd and Blanche Rowley, both in their 90s, were facing the rest of their lives apart after being told that Blanche would be taken into permanent nursing care while Syd must stay at home.

But the story prompted outrage and has now resulted in a u-turn by the authorities which means the couple can now live together at Ingersley Court Residential Home in Bollington.

The couple's daughter, Sheila Stockill, said: "I'd like to really thank the Macclesfield Express for helping out in the way they did and it certainly had a big impact."

Express reporter Gavin Hird (centre), who broke the story, is thanked by Syd and Blanche

In its original story the Express told how a panel of healthcare and social workers had decided Syd did not meet the criteria to join his wife in the care home and must remain alone at their council bungalow.

But after seeing the story Macclesfield MP Sir Nicholas Winterton intervened and the matter was reconsidered.

The story was later picked up by the national media, but Syd said credit should go to the Express.

He told the paper: "We wanted the Macclesfield Express number to thank you for what you'd done, but we couldn't find it!"

But the couple had chance to say 'thank you' in person when reporter Gavin Hird visited them at their new home.

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