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Pensioner's Christmas 'miracle' | Pensioner's Christmas 'miracle' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
By Freya McClements BBC News Christine and Ted about to board the plane for London | By Freya McClements BBC News Christine and Ted about to board the plane for London |
Ted Maxwell thought he wasn't going to see his family this Christmas - until the director of his care home worked a "miracle". | Ted Maxwell thought he wasn't going to see his family this Christmas - until the director of his care home worked a "miracle". |
The 82-year-old, who lives in Cornfield Care Centre in Limavady, had expected to spend the holidays with his daughter in London, but bad weather meant his flight was cancelled. | The 82-year-old, who lives in Cornfield Care Centre in Limavady, had expected to spend the holidays with his daughter in London, but bad weather meant his flight was cancelled. |
Cornfield director Jervis Nutt was determined Mr Maxwell wouldn't miss out on a family Christmas, and chartered a private plane to take him to London. | |
Travelling with him on Christmas Eve was staff member Christine Thompson. | Travelling with him on Christmas Eve was staff member Christine Thompson. |
"Ted is 82, and he lost his wife Deirdre about five weeks ago. | "Ted is 82, and he lost his wife Deirdre about five weeks ago. |
"The only family he has is in London. | "The only family he has is in London. |
"They'd booked scheduled flights for him yesterday, but when he went to the airport the flight had been cancelled. | "They'd booked scheduled flights for him yesterday, but when he went to the airport the flight had been cancelled. |
Words will not allow me to express what I feel Ted Maxwell | Words will not allow me to express what I feel Ted Maxwell |
"His granddaughter tried to fly over and meet him, but her flight was diverted to Dublin. | "His granddaughter tried to fly over and meet him, but her flight was diverted to Dublin. |
"It was just an absolute nightmare. | "It was just an absolute nightmare. |
"He had completely given up on being with his family at Christmas." | "He had completely given up on being with his family at Christmas." |
That was until Mr Nutt intervened. | That was until Mr Nutt intervened. |
"My boss, who owns the home, phoned me on Wednesday night and said, 'Is there no way we can get Ted to London tomorrow'? | "My boss, who owns the home, phoned me on Wednesday night and said, 'Is there no way we can get Ted to London tomorrow'? |
"We started contacting flying clubs, and we even tried ringing the radio station to get an announcement put out for somebody that had an aircraft we could charter. | "We started contacting flying clubs, and we even tried ringing the radio station to get an announcement put out for somebody that had an aircraft we could charter. |
"We got a charter in Antrim, and we're now sitting here at the airport waiting to fly him to London," she said. | "We got a charter in Antrim, and we're now sitting here at the airport waiting to fly him to London," she said. |
'Big heart' | 'Big heart' |
Christine said the gesture was typical of Mr Nutt. | Christine said the gesture was typical of Mr Nutt. |
"He's a very Christian man, and he always says Christianity doesn't end on a Sunday. | "He's a very Christian man, and he always says Christianity doesn't end on a Sunday. |
"He just has a very big heart, and is so good to the residents, but this was just over and above what anybody would do. | "He just has a very big heart, and is so good to the residents, but this was just over and above what anybody would do. |
"'Magnificent', was what Ted said to me on the phone when I told him - he said he couldn't believe we were doing it for him. | "'Magnificent', was what Ted said to me on the phone when I told him - he said he couldn't believe we were doing it for him. |
"He actually got very upset even talking about it - he lost his wife five weeks ago and all he wanted was to be with his family at Christmas," she said. | "He actually got very upset even talking about it - he lost his wife five weeks ago and all he wanted was to be with his family at Christmas," she said. |
Mr Maxwell said he was "overwhelmed". | Mr Maxwell said he was "overwhelmed". |
"Words will not allow me to express what I feel," he said. | "Words will not allow me to express what I feel," he said. |
"Last night we thought nothing could be done at all, but today, it was like seeing a miracle at work." | "Last night we thought nothing could be done at all, but today, it was like seeing a miracle at work." |
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