CHILDREN all around Helensburgh and Lomond have turned to the Advertiser to send heart-warming lockdown messages to their grandparents and great-grandparents this week.
The government’s instructions on social distancing may have brought an end to face-to-face visits to the homes of family and friends and left many older people feeling increasingly isolated – but we’ve stepped in to give young people a chance to say publicly how much they’re missing their loved ones during the pandemic.
The idea is all thanks to six-year-old Erin Grieve, from Helensburgh, who contacted us with a heart-warming plea this week, telling us how much she’s missing not being able to see her gran, Kathleen.
While grandparents and grandchildren are still only a phone call away, Erin decided she wanted to use the Advertiser to say publicly how much she, and other children, are missing their grandparents and how much they’re looking forward to being able to see them when the pandemic lockdown is over.
Erin told us: “I know lots of children like me haven’t seen their grannies in a while because we need to keep them safe.
“My granny is very special to me. I haven’t seen her properly for three weeks now, which is a really long time, and I know that she misses me just like I miss her.
“I wanted to send a special message to my granny to say that I love her, and that the two tortoises are doing great. They’re eating everything.
“To all the grannies and grandpas out there, we are thinking of you all the time and we will see you very soon.
READ MORE: Smile, please! Rachel, 11, aims to spread some virus cheer during lockdown
“Draw a rainbow and put it in your window so that we can wave to you.”
After we reported on Erin’s idea online, several more young readers got in touch, with help from their mums and dads, with touching messages for loved ones.
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Emma and Katie Smith said: “We would like to send a big hug to our Gran and Papa in Helensburgh, Janet and Billy Black, and our Gran in Alexandria, Margaret Smith. We miss you and wish you a happy Easter.”
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Libby Hamilton, 5, told her grandparents Jean and Mike: “I miss you so much. I miss our sleep overs and all our Disney films, and Grandma’s special macaroni – her macaroni is the best in the whole wide world.
“Love you both. I can’t wait to hug you both. In a while crocodile...”
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READ MORE: People in Argyll and Bute 'obeying lockdown instructions', Google data suggests
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Alexander and Emily got in touch to say: “We miss you lots Nana and Grandad, and Pappy too. Can’t wait to see you and finally celebrate grandad’s birthday.
“We also miss nan and papa, hopefully papa will get our logging soon.”
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Austin and Nyah McBride contacted us to say: “To Granny, Granpa, Nana and Papa. We miss you so much and can’t wait to see you all again for hugs and cake! Yum Yum! Love always. Nyah and Austin xx.”
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Dylan, Mason and Meadow got in touch with a message for Eric and Tricia Cairns in Helensburgh, who they should all have been seeing at Easter. They said simply: “Miss u loads and can’t wait to see you soon, stay safe.”
And we got a message for Myra Neilly in Garelochhead from granddaughter Sophie, who said: “To Granny Myra: Missing you loads, hoping we can see you soon. Love and hugs, Sophie xxxx.”
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Stephen, George, Eilidh and Niamh said: “To Granny Mo! We love and miss you loads can’t wait till we can see you again to give u squidgy snuggles. Lots of love, Stephen, George, Eilidh and Niamh xxxxx.”
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Archie and Aiden Kennedy said: “Hi Nana, Papa and Nana Mary. We love you and can’t wait to visit and give you lots of cuddles.
“We miss you so much and will come and see you when Boris Johnson tells us we’re not grounded anymore.
“Can’t wait for one of papa’s cream crackers and cheese. Lots of love and hugs xxxx.”
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‘The Wee Ones’ – Jaidyn, Louis, Sam, Rhys, Ameliya, Sophia, Kailyn, Maici, Ellie, Riley, Noah, Alisha and Nikita – told Grandpa Campbell in Arrochar: “We all miss you lots and will be up to visit for big hugs when this is all over. Love you lots xxx.”
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Natasha and Holly Lewis got in touch with this message: “Hi Granny, Granda, Nanny, Grampy and Auntie Margaret! We miss you all very much and can’t wait for a big cuddle.”
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READ MORE: Helensburgh church shares a message of faith for Easter
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Diana Blanch, who lives in Rosneath, got this message from her grandchildren John, Paul, Iain, Cameron, Hannah, Laura, Fae, Dayna and Robert, and from great-grandchildren Rebecca, Liam, Nathan, Abbie, Amy, Emma, Molly, Matthew, Adam, Callum, Jack, Catherine and Fraser.
They said: “Hi Nana, we know you are missing us all, we miss you too! Cannot wait to see you when it is safe to. Sending you lots of hugs and kisses!! Love you so much from all your great grandchildren and grandkids xxxx.”
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Six-year-old Skyla Maggs in Rhu asked us to pass on this message to her grandparents, Mark and Marie Trick in Helensburgh: “I miss you Nanna and Grandad. I wish I could have a sleepover, and I’m sad I can’t hug Grandad on his birthday.
“Nanna, be careful at work in the hospital. Grandad better not eat my trifle.”
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George and Sadie Ford contacted us with a message for their Grandma and Papa Macdonald, telling them how much they “love coming around to your house in Rhu to see you and play games”.
Sadie said: “I can’t wait to play with my Dolly Parton and bouncing on your couch with you.”
George added: “I’m looking forward to playing Papa at football and building cool bridges.”
The pair said: “Hopefully you are both keeping safe and we will see you both very soon.
“We can’t wait to give you the biggest hug ever.”
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READ MORE: 'Don't be tempted to visit the National Park at Easter', say Loch Lomond authorities
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Siblings Amy (8), Molly (6) and Aaron (3) asked us to pass on this message to their grandparents, both of whom are key workers – gran as a nurse at the Vale of Leven Hospital, and papa delivering medicines for the pharmacy in Cardross.
They said simply: “Keep safe and we will hopefully see you really soon.”
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Ruby and Ronan contacted us to say: “Granny Dolly we miss baking cakes with you and we miss walks with Grampa and Bonnie. We both can’t wait to give you both the biggest hug xxxx.”
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The last message to arrive before our deadline was to John and Cathy Wilson, from their grandchildren Caitlin, Ellie, Finlay, Connor and Cameron, who said: “We miss you and can’t wait to see you again when this is all over.
“Love you to the moon and back.
“Lots of love and hugs xxxxx.”
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If you’d like to help a young person say something similar to their gran or grandpa, email editorial @helensburghadvertiser.co.uk with your message (100 words maximum), get in touch via the Send Us Your News section of this website, or send it to us on Facebook.
The deadline for messages to appear in the next print edition of the Advertiser is 4pm on Monday, April 13.
Tell us the name of the young person the message is coming from – and the name of the family member(s) they want to say hello to.
You can also send us a picture of the young person the message is coming from – we’ll include as many of those as we can, subject to space.
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READ MORE: Catch up with all the latest news headlines from across Helensburgh and Lomond here
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