Cancer-battling grandad reunited with best man after 60 years apart

Cancer-battling grandfather, 82, with just weeks to live is reunited with best man who was his closest friend in childhood after 60 years apart

• Jimmy Fraser, 82, went on a quest to find his childhood best friend after cancer
•  He managed to track down Tam Kerr, who immigrated to Canada 50 years ago

A grandfather given just weeks to live has been reunited with his best man after 60 years with no contact.

Jimmy Fraser, 82, from Glasgow, Scotland, went on a quest to find his childhood best friend after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

He was given the devastating diagnosis in 2018, but was told the cancer was initially ‘manageable’ however in July he learned that he had just 12 weeks to live after it had spread throughout his body.

Mr Fraser was determined to track down his old best mate Tam Kerr, who immigrated to Canada over 50 years ago, before he died with the help of his granddaughter.

His granddaughter Chloe said: ‘The cancer was initially slow progressing, something he could live with, but he took a funny turn on July 17 and we found out it had spread and there was not much else they could do for him.

Jimmy Fraser was first diagnosed in 2018, and the cancer was initially ‘manageable’. (Pictured, the grandfather with his three daughters)

Jimmy Fraser (bottom right) spoke to his childhood friend Tam Kerr spoke for the first time in 60 years 

The emotional encounter was the first time they had seen each other since they were 22-year-old lads

‘They told him he had around 12 weeks left. We are now nearing the time, we don’t know how long he has really. His diagnosis really put everything into perspective so he got in contact with his old friendship group from Glasgow – but Tam was the only one we couldn’t find and he was really special to grandad.’

The pair became friends when they were just 15 years-old and went on to become each other’s best man at their respective weddings when they were 22. After growing up in Kinning Park in Glasgow, Celtic fan Jimmy Fraser and his wife Maureen moved to Coventry in England, where the family still reside.

Tech-savvy Chloe took to social media in a bid to track down Tam. Posting a picture on Facebook of Jimmy and Tam together at her grandparents’ wedding in 1963, Chloe wrote: ‘I’m asking a favour as my grandad Jimmy has been given only a few weeks left to live and he wants to find his best man.

‘His name was Tom ‘Tam’ Kerr from The Gorbals, Hallside Street, born in 1941 (I think) and he moved to Canada about 50 years ago.’

The touching social media post received over 6.5k shares and Chloe, 23, was left stunned as she was able to reunite the pair.

The pair became friends when they were just 15 years-old and went on to become each other’s best man at their respective weddings. (Pictured, Mr Fraser with his son-in-law, grandson and great grandson)

‘I put the post up not really expecting much but thinking it was worth a try – everyone knows everyone in Glasgow’, said Chloe.

‘After I put it up people were instantly commenting, not just people who knew Tam but also people who knew grandad, like his old school friends, neighbours etc.’

After being in touch with old mutual friends, Jimmy was told Tam lives in Spain but has a house in Paisley, which he often visits. On Tuesday the pair spoke for the first time in 60 years as they set up a Facetime call.

The emotional encounter was the first time they had seen each other since they were 22-year-old lads.

Chloe said: ‘I just couldn’t stop crying. We found him through the power of social media really. The comments and kind words have been so touching’.

Jimmy has now vowed to stay in touch was Tam during the limited time he has left while the Fraser family embrace their last moments with their grandad.

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