A COUPLE whose 63-year marriage has been filled with 'love and romance' have been reunited thanks to the rapid Covid test being piloted in a Falmouth care home.

Freddie and Shirley Lowe, who have lived most of their married life in Melvill Road, Falmouth have known each other since junior school.

Freddie proposed to Shirley in Paris and, before he moved into the King Charles Court care home in Marlborough Road, the couple were inseparable.

They were able to see each other once again today, after being separated for many weeks, thanks to the 30-minute Covid test being piloted at King Charles allowing people to visit their loved ones.

His wife Shirley: "It was so wonderful to see him and hold his hand. I was so pleased and grateful for everything the home has done to make this happen."

Care home manager Melissa Jones said: "All the visits have made my year after a terrible year and Shirley and Freddie have a wonderful, beautiful marriage which has been filled with a lot of love and romance. Freddy proposed in Paris and they have known each other since junior school.

"Like all our residents, Freddie is very special to us and it was very emotional to see them together."

King Charles Court Nursing Home is one of only 20 care homes in the country to be chosen for a pilot scheme giving rapid testing to families.

Provided they test negative, the test will give families greater access to their loved ones, with unlimited length visits and limited physical contact, such as hand-holding, while still wearing PPE.

Families will need to book a time slot to arrive at, 30 minutes before their visit time. They will then take the test and get the results 30 minutes later.

The home currently has 29 residents, aged in their late 60s up to the eldest resident at age 104.