Video shows moment a couple married for 50 years are reunited after Covid kept them apart at Christmas

An elderly couple has been reunited after the pandemic kept them apart for Christmas for the first time ever.

Colin Bagshaw, 75, had been caring for his wife Jane, 72, who has dementia, at home until he had a stroke in November last year.

When Colin was admitted to hospital, Jane had to move into a care home in Leeds to be looked after. Due to Covid rules, the couple couldn’t see each other at all for two months, the longest they’d been apart since they met.

After Colin was discharged from hospital at the end of January, he decided to move into Jane’s care home so they could be together.

The heartwarming moment the couple were finally reunited was captured on video.  

Care home staff took Jane to her husband’s room, where he was sitting in a chair waiting for her to arrive.

On seeing his wife, Colin said: “You look lovely, you are lovely. You’re gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous.”

Carers said Jane had been struggling with being apart from her husband, and had asked about him every day.

In the clip, Jane breaks down when she sees Colin and kisses his head.

Care home staff said, since the couple have reunited, they’ve been inseparable and Jane’s mood has improved drastically. They now intend to live together long-term in the care home.

open image in gallery

Staff laid on a special Valentine’s Day meal for the couple, after being inspired by their story.

Colin said: “It was marvellous to be reunited with Jane. I have missed Jane so much. We have never been apart for so long.

“Getting to be with her again is all I wanted and seeing her looking so well is wonderful.”

Colin and Jane first met in 1965, and married the following year on April 4 1966.

open image in gallery

The couple met in a pub in Leeds and Colin said he “used his charm to attract beautiful Jane away from many other suitors”.

He said: “If I had a pound for every time I travelled to see Jane while we were courting, I would be a rich man.”

After getting married, the couple travelled from Lands’ End to John O’ Groats for their honeymoon. Colin and Jane retired to Scarborough but are happy to now be living back in Leeds, which has fond memories for them.

open image in gallery

Michelle Rhodes, Manager at Anchor Hanover’s Oulton Manor care home, said: “It was so lovely to see Colin and Jane reunite after so long apart.

“The change in Jane was remarkable – her face positively lit up when she saw him, and Colin’s been reminiscing a lot about when they first met and how he ‘smooth-talked’ her.”

Emma Bagshaw, Colin’s niece, said: “We are so relieved that Uncle Colin and Auntie Jane can be together again.

“It has been a tough few months due to poor health and the pandemic but finally Colin and Jane are together where they are most happy and can be cared for and safe.”