Page 18 - Federation Magazine December 2017 / January 2018

Magic surprise

PC enjoys emotional

reunion with her wife

after secret 10,000-mile

flight

West Midlands PC has been
emotionally reunited with her wife
A after a 10,000-mile flight courtesy of
British Airways.
Lisa Harris and Hayley Angell have been
living on opposite sides of the world after BA staff at the conference. The couple’s wedding day.
Hayley flew to Australia because of a family
tragedy. The BA Magic team read Lisa’s letter next I was in a British Airways business class
Lisa, who transferred to the Force from and began planning to reunite the pair so seat on my way to London to be reunited
Police Scotland in August this year, wrote in with the help of Lisa herself, Debbie and with my wife!
to the airline’s BA Magic campaign to tell the Hayley’s boss, Adam, they planned the “Being able to take the trip with Mum
couple’s story. They had met in Australia in surprise of a life-time. was the most special thing and it has meant
2011 and moved to the UK in 2012 before After weeks of secretive planning, the world to her. She’d never been on a
getting married three years later in Derby. British Airways cabin crew member, Claire long-haul flight before and it would have
The only people that couldn’t be there Allinson found herself hidden in the wings been Dad’s dream to take her on holiday like
on the couple’s big day were Hayley’s at a conference Hayley was attending, with this. It has awakened so many possibilities
mother, Debbie, and father, Steve. Steve was a pair of return business class tickets from within her. This is just the beginning of a
recovering from Stage 4 tongue cancer and Sydney to London for Hayley and Debbie. new chapter and I know there are many
Debbie has the degenerative condition, Under the ruse of a work request, Adam adventures in store for her yet.”
muscular dystrophy, so the journey was just asked Hayley to remain seated at a table in Lisa said: “I got in touch with British
too much. the large conference room as it was cleared Airways more out of hope than expectation.
Lisa started her dream job as a police after lunch. As Hayley waited for him to I couldn’t believe it when they said they’d
officer in Glasgow while Hayley pursued her return, a video of Lisa rolled through one of help us. The fact we could surprise Hayley
passion, establishing herself as a blogger the giant screens telling her to get packed and that Deb could come too, knowing she’d
and vlogger of all things vintage. as she and Debbie were flying to London be comfortable and looked after on the
Just a year-and-a-half later, Hayley the following day. flight, made it all the more special.
received the devastating news that Steve’s After a sleepless night for the pair, they “Hayley must have wondered what was
cancer had returned and was now terminal. were picked up early and welcomed at wrong with me in the run-up to them
On Valentine’s Day this year, she rushed Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport by the arriving as I was constantly rushing off our
back to Australia leaving Lisa, their beloved British Airways team, before boarding the frequent Facetime calls as I was so worried
pet dog, Hettie, and all her friends behind in aircraft early and being seated with a glass I’d give it away!
the UK. of champagne to relax them into a 22-hour “I barely slept a wink the night before
Steve died peacefully with Hayley by his flight. they arrived and Hettie and I were at the
side on 26 March. Waiting for them at Heathrow was Lisa airport bright and early waiting for the
Hayley has been in Australia ever since, - complete with balloons, flowers and pet flight. It was so wonderful to see them both
helping her Mum sort through her Dad’s Hettie - for an emotional reunion. appear through arrivals and we had the
affairs and assisting her Mum through her Hayley said: “I couldn’t believe it and it most amazing time seeing friends and
own condition. Meanwhile, Lisa and Hettie certainly didn’t sink in until I was back in family, visiting Buckingham Palace, walking
have moved back to her home town of the UK! It all happened so fast and was like the gardens of Chatsworth House, touring
Derby. a dream. One day I was at a conference, the villages with thatched roofs, savouring

18 federation December 2017/January 2018 www.westmidspolfed.com