Romantic gift found after 25 years in former Fochaber man's ear
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A former Moray schoolboy got a shock reminder of a long-forgotten childhood romance after this tiny plastic bead fell out of his ear.
Nowadays Oliver Gaywood is a 35-year-old father who lives in Australia.
However, a quarter of a century ago he was a Milne's Primary pupil who had a crush on one of his classmates, a girl called Rebecca Smith.
Oliver was transported back to his schooldays in Fochabers after he began experiencing problems with his hearing.
A trip to the doctors resulted in him having his ears syringed.
And much to his surprise out popped the little pink bead.
Taking up the story, Oliver says: "I'd taken the bead from a school cupboard.
"It may have been cheap, but it was pink and shiny.
"To my innocent eyes it looked glamorous.
"My intention was to make it into a necklace, then give it to Rebecca.
"My only experience of romance came from watching things like Neighbours, so I knew that the way to win this girl's heart was with a grand romantic gesture.
"But then it was time for PE and I didn't have any pockets in my kit.
"I realised I couldn't play a whole game of football while holding the bead in my hand.
"So I did what any sensible 10-year-old boy would do – I stuck it in my ear."
And there the bead would stay for the next 25 years until Oliver started having hearing problems.
He says: "I had a sinus infection back in January this year and then another in May.
"I kept taking antibiotics but the problem kept returning.
"It really felt like I was underwater at times.
"I remember going to a shopping centre with my daughter Banksia, who's aged three, and I just couldn't hear anything.
"In fact, for about three days the world was completely muffled."
Oliver's hearing problems forced him to get his ears examined.
He says: "I looked down at the metal tray after the doctor syringed my ears.
"And there, besides an embarrassingly large lump of wax, was this tiny little bead.
"The doctor commented that my daughter has probably dropped it into my ear while I was asleep.
"I just agreed with him.
"But I knew the real reason – although I'd completely forgotten about it until that moment."
After leaving Milne's Primary, Oliver went on to Milne's Secondary.
He subsequently left Fochabers to study journalism at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.
A huge cricket fan, he emigrated to Australia a decade ago after travelling Down Under to watch the Ashes series of 2010/11.
He now works as a copywriter in the city of Newcastle, which stands a couple of hours north along the coast from Sydney.
Oliver says: "I'm absolutely euphoric about getting my hearing back.
"I was too embarrassed to tell the doctor the true story about how the bead got into my ear.
"But I've been laughing about it ever since.
"I think the moral of the story is that you probably shouldn't keep anything in your ear for a quarter of a century.
"But more importantly, if anyone's still in touch with Rebecca, can you let her know I've got a present for her."
