An elderly Dundee couple, who had been soul mates since they were 17, have died within days of each other in the city’s Roxburghe House.
Cancer sufferers May and Drew McGlashan, who were both 75, were tragically unique.
“The staff team and the consultants all said it was the first time they have ever had a husband and wife in together. It was a new experience for them,” said grieving daughter Lorraine Backhouse.
The couple spent their last days together in the same room at the hospice, where Mr McGlashan passed away last Saturday and Mrs McGlashan died on Monday.
Last night their daughter paid tribute to the exceptional care given to the couple.
“The family want to thank everybody up in Roxburghe,” said Mrs Backhouse. “The staff there were absolutely excellent and we cannot fault them at all.”
Mrs McGlashan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, when she had a breast removed and then a course of radiotherapy.
The cancer spread to her bones and she had no remission from the disease, although she remained relatively fit and able to live life to the full until last December when she began to have difficulty getting around.
Mr McGlashan was diagnosed with stomach cancer in December 2008 and was given only a few months to live but survived for 18 months.
“My dad kept my mum going and my mum kept my dad going. They were very much a partnership, very much best friends and very much together,” said Mrs Backhouse.
Mr McGlashan was originally from London and his wife from Ayrshire. They met when their families moved in to opposite houses on the same street in Fintry. Their friendship was sealed through a mutual love of cycling and membership of a city cycling club.
The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary three years ago, having been married on June 29, 1957.
After serving his time as a toolmaker with washing machine and fridge manufacturer Astral, Mr McGlashan did national service in the RAF and then worked at Timex until it closed down.
Mrs McGlashan was a housewife and then worked as an agent for Provident for 40 years, retiring at the age of 72, shortly before she was diagnosed with cancer.
They are survived by Lorraine, son Angus, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.