Family thanks kind strangers who came to couple's aid

Lynne and Trevor Stallard from Gosport, have been overwhelmed by local visitors,gifts and cards after their car crash in Scotland.

Picture: Gary Anthony / Scottish Provincial Press — Lynne and Trevor Stallard from Gosport, have been overwhelmed by local visitors,gifts and cards after their car crash in Scotland. Picture: Gary Anthony / Scottish Provincial Press

However, one social media post from their daughter went viral, seeing the family inundated with gifts from random strangers.

Trevor and Lynne Stallard, 66 and 62 respectively, were involved in a serious car accident in Dornoch, Inverness.

Their car, a Vauxhall Vectra, collided with a Network Rail van, and the couple found themselves staying in Raigmore Hospital.

Daughter Kelly Nicholson felt helpless, with her parents the other side of the UK while she was looking after her own children.

She decided to launch an appeal on social media, asking people for their help.

The post was shared more than 100 times and soon ended up reaching people in Inverness; before long, the couple were swamped with snacks, puzzle books, bed clothes and reading glasses.

Lynne Stallard said: ‘Inverness may be a city but it really is a community.

‘Thank you is a silly little phrase and doesn’t cover what people have done to help us. I have met some really wonderful people and I feel like I have made friends for life.

‘To say thank you, we will donate some money to a local charity, once we are back on our feet.’

The couple say that the charity they will donate to will probably be Crocus Group – a charity that offers support to young people who have recently lost a loved one.

Lynne’s daughter, Kelly, added: ‘I had just had a baby, so couldn’t go up to see them; I felt awful.

‘I put a post up, and after a short while my phone just exploded with notifications.

‘I cannot thank the people in Inverness, and others who shared the post, enough for what they have done – it really raised my parents’ spirits.’

Kelly’s sister drove up to Scotland to drive her father back on Saturday, May 27.

‘Dad is back home now – he’s still got a few aches and pains, but other than that he is in good health.

‘He goes to visit mum every day, but can only manage a couple of hours for now.

‘Mum was transferred to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham – the hospital are looking to get her a wheelchair, and then we will all be reunited as a family.’