Charlie and Margaret Watson of Varis Court, Forres wish to thank the boy personally who found their wedding ring at Brodie Castle

A local couple in their 64th year of marriage want to say thank you personally to whoever returned their wedding ring.

Retired policeman and nurse, Charlie and Margaret Watson of Varis Court, would like to reward the boy who found Charlie's gold band at Brodie Castle after they had enjoyed the Brodie Illuminations event with family last week.

Margaret said: "We were there with our daughter Elaine who was over from Canada, granddaughter Klair and great-granddaughter Madzi (9). It was a wonderful show, very cleverly put together.

"Charlie realised his ring was missing the next day. He was devastated and kept asking 'where's my ring?'. I was devastated too after all those years."

The couple looked all over their house and checked Elaine's car. Elaine then rang Brodie Castle and spoke to team member, Anne Owen, to see if they could retrace her family's steps.

Anne said: "Elaine mentioned the ring hadn’t been off her father's finger for 64 years! He was very upset and had spent days fretting.

"It was a long shot but I went on the hunt. Miraculously, with the help of a visiting father and child, we found the ring in the marquee, under a table!"

Anne called Margaret to tell her the good news and she cried with relief.

Anne said: "Elaine had just returned her hire car as was going home to Vancouver, so I volunteered to take the ring back to the Watsons. They were very kind and gifted our team a bottle of wine and a thank you card."

Margaret added: "Anne was very pleasant. She had a look for us out on the grass and then in the marquee where we'd had a coffee afterwards.

"She said she was about to give up when a bird flew in followed by a man with his wee boy who found the ring under a table!"

Charlie and Margaret met at a dance in Fintry, courted for ten years and got married in Blackburn (Kinellar) on August 30, 1958. They later had a son and a daughter and lived at Pilmuir Road West, Forres.

Charlie's gold wedding band has immense sentimental value to their entire family.

Margaret said: "We would love to say thank you to the boy who found it personally and give him a wee reward. We are so grateful."

Over 6000 people flocked to this year’s Brodie Illuminated which saw the 16th century castle and gardens transformed into a colourful, after-dark wonderland throughout November.

Now in its third year, the popular event is gaining a reputation as one of the best light shows in the country.

Operations manager at Brodie Castle, Pam Hill, said: "We're absolutely thrilled that Mr Watson has been reunited with his cherished wedding ring.

"Our team love to go the extra mile to help our visitors and we are so pleased that it's resulted in such a heart-warming story!"

Please call Brodie Castle's team on 01309 641700 if you can help.