You need to be logged in to your Sky Poker account above to post discussions and comments.
You might need to refresh your page afterwards.
Are We Really Deporting Grannies Now.
Grandmother married to British husband for 44 years faces deportation after being told by Home Office to leave UK
A 79-year-old grandmother who married her British husband almost half a century ago says she is beside herself with worry after being told to leave the country by Home Office officials.
South African national Carolyn Hirst moved to Wales five years ago with British hubby Michael after a terrifying robbery at gunpoint.
The pair, who tied the knot 44 years ago, moved in with their daughter Nikki Blandin De Chalain, in Aberedw, near Builth Wells, Powys.
However, despite being married to a British man and her daughter being a British passport holder too, Mrs Hirst's application for indefinite leave to remain was turned down by the Home Office.
And she was then told: leave the country in two weeks or face being deported.
Daughter Nikki, 41, said: "Not for one moment did we think it would come back rejected because of her age, the fact she comes from a British family. Why can't she spend the rest of her life in the country with her family?
"She hasn't asked for anything, she's not on benefits because they live with me and my father's pension pays for their food and petrol.
Having lived in South Africa all her life, Mrs Hirst and her husband decided to move to Wales to be with their daughter and her family after they were victims of a horrendous robbery at their home in Durban.
"They broke through in the middle of the night while my parents were asleep in bed and they them up a gun point for 12 hours and stabbed a screwdriver in my father's leg," recalled Nikki.
"They cleared out the whole house so they decided to sell the house and the rest of the furniture to come leave here. It's a scary thing to happen, especially at that age, and they expect her to go back to that country. She won't cope."
In a letter dated May 10, Mrs Hirst received a letter from the Home Office notifying her of the rejection of her application.
It said: "I am writing to you to inform you that you're outside the rules application and human rights claim made on November 18, 2018, has been refused.
"You can appeal this decision... If you do not appeal you must leave the United Kingdom."
Having received the letter, Mrs Hirst and her family have been left petrified about what would happen to her if she were to return to South Africa, and she's now been prescribed with sleeping pills after struggling to sleep with worry.
They believe her application was turned down because she was "ill advised" to come to the UK on an ancestral visa, due to three of her grandparents being British citizens.
Nikki added: "She's been told to go back to a country where she was brutally attacked with nothing to her name. The Home Office even suggested we should all go back with her even though we're British nationals.
"I don't think she would cope, it would be the end of her life. She will be turning 80 in a couple of months time and I want them to be in the UK so I can look after her.
"She's petrified, tearful and emotional. It's our job to try and keep the situation calm and to fight like **** when she's sleeping or doing something else but we're petrified out of our minds as well."
Mrs Hirst's family are appealing the Home Office's decision and her case has received letters of support from Chris Davies MP and Kirsty Williams AM, who wrote: "To deport her now would be a cruel and unjustified action unworthy of a country that would like to see itself as civilised."
Mrs Blandin De Chalain has also started an online petition in support of her mother.
A Home Office spokesman said: " In light of further information received, we have contacted the family to advise them that we will reconsider Mrs Hirst’s application.
"We will take into account any additional evidence that is submitted."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/grandmother-married-to-british-husband-for-44-years-faces-deportation-after-being-told-by-home-office-to-leave-uk/ar-AABDW4t?ocid=spartandhp
A 79-year-old grandmother who married her British husband almost half a century ago says she is beside herself with worry after being told to leave the country by Home Office officials.
South African national Carolyn Hirst moved to Wales five years ago with British hubby Michael after a terrifying robbery at gunpoint.
The pair, who tied the knot 44 years ago, moved in with their daughter Nikki Blandin De Chalain, in Aberedw, near Builth Wells, Powys.
However, despite being married to a British man and her daughter being a British passport holder too, Mrs Hirst's application for indefinite leave to remain was turned down by the Home Office.
And she was then told: leave the country in two weeks or face being deported.
Daughter Nikki, 41, said: "Not for one moment did we think it would come back rejected because of her age, the fact she comes from a British family. Why can't she spend the rest of her life in the country with her family?
"She hasn't asked for anything, she's not on benefits because they live with me and my father's pension pays for their food and petrol.
Having lived in South Africa all her life, Mrs Hirst and her husband decided to move to Wales to be with their daughter and her family after they were victims of a horrendous robbery at their home in Durban.
"They broke through in the middle of the night while my parents were asleep in bed and they them up a gun point for 12 hours and stabbed a screwdriver in my father's leg," recalled Nikki.
"They cleared out the whole house so they decided to sell the house and the rest of the furniture to come leave here. It's a scary thing to happen, especially at that age, and they expect her to go back to that country. She won't cope."
In a letter dated May 10, Mrs Hirst received a letter from the Home Office notifying her of the rejection of her application.
It said: "I am writing to you to inform you that you're outside the rules application and human rights claim made on November 18, 2018, has been refused.
"You can appeal this decision... If you do not appeal you must leave the United Kingdom."
Having received the letter, Mrs Hirst and her family have been left petrified about what would happen to her if she were to return to South Africa, and she's now been prescribed with sleeping pills after struggling to sleep with worry.
They believe her application was turned down because she was "ill advised" to come to the UK on an ancestral visa, due to three of her grandparents being British citizens.
Nikki added: "She's been told to go back to a country where she was brutally attacked with nothing to her name. The Home Office even suggested we should all go back with her even though we're British nationals.
"I don't think she would cope, it would be the end of her life. She will be turning 80 in a couple of months time and I want them to be in the UK so I can look after her.
"She's petrified, tearful and emotional. It's our job to try and keep the situation calm and to fight like **** when she's sleeping or doing something else but we're petrified out of our minds as well."
Mrs Hirst's family are appealing the Home Office's decision and her case has received letters of support from Chris Davies MP and Kirsty Williams AM, who wrote: "To deport her now would be a cruel and unjustified action unworthy of a country that would like to see itself as civilised."
Mrs Blandin De Chalain has also started an online petition in support of her mother.
A Home Office spokesman said: " In light of further information received, we have contacted the family to advise them that we will reconsider Mrs Hirst’s application.
"We will take into account any additional evidence that is submitted."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/grandmother-married-to-british-husband-for-44-years-faces-deportation-after-being-told-by-home-office-to-leave-uk/ar-AABDW4t?ocid=spartandhp
Comments
Computer says no
I am not saying she should necessarily be sent back. But this is the other side of this story.
She is South African, not British. She married a British person many years ago, but they decided to live, work and pay their taxes in South Africa, rather than Britain. For all of their working lives.
At the age of 74 she came here on an "ancestry visa"-that is designed for people with UK grandparents to come over here and work temporarily, for up to 5 years. Not to remain here permanently.
I am sorry she was attacked in South Africa. Anyone believe that there is nowhere in south Africa that is safe for her to live? Or just want to live close to her relatives, and use the NHS?
Sorry to be harsh. But people can't just live anywhere that suits them. Anyone fancy trying to emigrate to Australia in their 70s? Think again.