A COUPLE who have been through one of their toughest challenges in 48 years of marriage got a welcome Christmas gift.
The Grimsby Telegraph has teamed up with the Artie White Foundation for the 12 Days Of Christmas campaign, giving deserving members of our community toy vouchers or Christmas hampers.
One of the lucky couples was June and George Aisthorpe, of Pendreth Place, Cleethorpes, whose year got off to bad start when June, 85, fell and fractured her pelvic floor bone.
George, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, visited his wife daily while she was in hospital for five weeks but when she returned home, she fell again and had to return for another ten weeks.
However, when June started rapidly losing weight, George insisted on taking her home to care for her himself – and she is now on the mend.
George said: "June couldn't do anything for herself so I wanted to care for her because I love her – for better, for worse.
"I washed and clothed her, did cooking, housework, cleaning – I did it all, but she would do the same for me and did when I was first struck with rheumatoid arthritis.
"June had always insisted on doing all of those things before so it took some getting used to, but even June admits, the cooking at least has definitely got better."
The couple met at Stevenson's Dance Hall and were married in Old Clee Church.
And although their dancing days may be over, June, who has spent almost all of 2012 in a wheelchair, is now hopeful she will be able to walk again.
"I am determined to walk again – I just want to get out to the shops," she added.
June said she couldn't believe it when the hamper was delivered after friend Kay Lovecock, who she met through her late brother Peter, nominated the couple.
George said: "It was such a lovely surprise and we didn't expect it at all. The people who make these up are real heroes."
Chairman of the Artie White Foundation Barry Meadows, who presented the hamper, said: "They were a lovely couple and were over the moon when we gave them the hamper. "
