Fyrish Gymnastics Club gesture leaves coach jumping for joy on lockdown birthday

GYMNASTS at an Easter Ross club bent over backwards this week to ensure their award-winning coach enjoyed a birthday he will never forget – cleverly leaping over the restrictions of the coronavirus lockdown in the process.

Fyrish Gymnastics Club head coach Sonny Rhind was lost for words after spotting a montage of specially recorded video and photograph greetings from many of his young charges from down the years, put together as a special surprise to celebrate his 62nd birthday.

The coach – whose twin brother Alasdair, a Highland councillor represents Tain and Easter Ross – was left dabbing his eyes after watching the lovingly crafted footage posted to the club's Facebook page on Monday. He said: "Those gymnasts and coaches know how to get tears in my eyes, the old softie I am. It was lovely to see all the happy faces and very uplifting. It is tough for us all and I really miss the gymnastics team, especially the cheeky ones. The gym is a very sad looking place with no kids in it."

He may have been isolated for the big day but that didn't stop him tucking in to a specially baked birthday cake prepared by eight-year-old Lacie Henderson.

Thanking club members and supporters, he wrote: "Girls this is awesome. Thank you all so much. Missing you all. Cheers."

Melissa Black, who pulled it all together with the willing support of parents and coaches, said: "With the gym currently closed and being unable to celebrate with Sonny in person I thought it would be a nice touch if I could get some of the gymnasts and coaches to send a birthday message either by photo or video which I could then put all together to create a short video. I sent out an email to some parents and the coaches in the middle of last week and the video was completed by the weekend. It has received some lovely comments and has even made some feel a bit emotional, even myself as I was putting it altogether!"

Greetings from many in the gymnastics community from as far afield as Shetland and Inverurie were also shared.

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