Page 9 - Staff FocusSeptember 2020

It’s fourth time lucky as Balhousie Castle is the site of the Black Watch
Museum and both Kristopher and Ross served
Jillian and Jim tie the in the Army in Afghanistan; Kristopher with the
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and Ross with the
3rd Parachute Regiment. Jillian also had an
knot – and not even uncle who served with the Black Watch.
“It was a bit emotional but we were just so
glad that we managed to get the arrangements
COVID could stop them sorted and were finally able to get married.
Jim says I must be the hardest woman in the

The path of true love doesn’t run smoothly, they say, and Jillian Nelson world to marry!”
Jillian is a great music fan and it was through
can attest to that after she fought off ill health and the COVID-19 crisis music she and Jim first saw each other when
to marry her partner Jim Harcus – at their fourth attempt. she went to a gig in Perth where Jim was
Jillian, who retired from Perth Sheriff Court last year, had been playing harmonica in a blues band. They
planning her wedding since last autumn with a date of 30 November subsequently were introduced by friends and
and all arrangements set for the magnificent venue of Balhousie Castle have been partners for 9 years.
in Perth. But then bad luck struck and Jillian had to call off the Now they are man and wife, they are turning
wedding because of ill health. their attention to preparing for a big
It was re-arranged for 16 May with 100 guests due to attend the same celebration which is pencilled in for May of
venue which by good fortune had the date available – and then Covid next year.
struck. There was no option but to postpone things again. After a “We are playing it by ear but we hope to hold a
few weeks of lockdown Jillian and Jim thought they would change blessing ceremony at Balhousie again.”
their plans and have a small civil ceremony in Perth to be followed In the meantime, the couple are planning a
in the longer term by a celebration after the COVID restrictions ended. break, heading for Skye and Harris this autumn.
Instead of being lifted, they were tightened and the plans were It will be coming up for a year since Jillian
stymied again. retired from Perth Sheriff Court after 39 years
Undeterred, the couple made new plans when the lockdown rules in the courts, starting as a typist in Perth
began to be eased and on 1 August, it was fourth time lucky when Winning through: Jillian and Jim celebrate their special day straight from school. She went on to AO and
they tied the knot at Balhousie Castle in front of 20 family members. EO roles in Dundee, returning to Perth where
“The venue were so helpful in arranging things for us,” said Jillian “and we managed to she was promoted to HEO. Another spell in Dundee followed before she returned finally
get everything prepared in just three weeks. They couldn’t provide catering facilities, to where it all started.
though, so it was all back to our garden for a buffet and drinks.” “I really enjoyed my career and worked with some great people. It was never boring,
Jillian’s sons Kristopher and Ross and Jim’s son Jamie had leading roles, with Kristopher always something new to challenge me – and I like a challenge. I had planned to retire
lighting the candles in memory of Jillian’s mother and Jim’s mother and father; Ross at 59 but couldn’t finish my last 5 months because of ill-health. So things didn’t
reading the “Wedding Ring” assisted by his 10-year-old son Cameron; and Jamie quite finish as I had hoped and I didn’t get a chance to say farewell to everyone but
carrying out the hand-fasting ceremony with a special piece of Black Watch tartan. that is my only regret.”