A young couple killed when their private plane crashed on Easter Saturday were remembered in a unique church gathering at the weekend.
Grieving relatives and friends of Dr Margaret-Ann Rous, 37 and her businessman husband David, 28, quietly filed into Heylipol Church on the Isle of Tiree to pay their respects to the young couple.
Mr Rous, a structural engineer, and his GP wife who lived at Newport-on-Tay, in Fife, were on their way to visit Margaret-Ann’s widowed mother Catriona Maclean on Tiree when their single engine PA 28 Cherokee piper plane vanished from the radar at 1.50pm.
The wreckage, along with the couple’s bodies, was found in the area of Glen Kinglass by Loch Etive South of Oban by mountain rescue teams later that night.
In an effort to help the many people who knew and loved the couple pay their respects, the local church members organised an “open doors” event.
The church was opened for three hours on Saturday to mourners – many of them still in shock at the sudden way in which one of their favourite daughters was snatched from them.
During the afternoon many of them attended and signed a book if condolences which was poignantly placed before a wedding picture of Dr Rous and her husband.
Others drank tea together as they talked about Dr Rous and recalled watching her grow up and into a woman.
After the crash, local doctor John Holliday described Dr Rous as “captivating; a much loved GP who immediately touched the hearts of everyone who came into contact with her.”
Many people visiting the church just quietly sat and prayed.
Yesterday the minister, Rev Elspeth MacLean, told worshipers at the morning service that no date had been set for the funerals of the couple.
She offered prayers for them and for Dr Rous’ mother and her sister Johann, who also lives on Tiree.
An elder of the church said: “It was all done with Catriona’s knowledge and blessing. It also gave the church a way to show somehow we care about the family and the community.”
During the morning service Rev MacLean said that everyone wanted to help, but found it difficult to know how.
Mr Rous was originally from Gillingham in Kent.