Moray soldier reunited with kids after being apart for 18 months

A Kinloss Barracks soldier and his wife finally have their kids with them after not being able to see them for a year and a half.

Sapper Aminiasi Taletawa's daughters were originally planning to move from Fiji, where they were living with their auntie and Spr Taletawa's sister, last September.

However he says due to the pandemic, his sister's transit visa was denied.

By the time this was rejected, his children's visas were about to expire, meaning they had to repeat the whole process.

Funding from the Royal Engineers Association and the Soldiers' Charity helped pay for a new set of visas and plane tickets for Elizabeth (7) and Geneva (5) to move to the UK.

Sapper Taletawa says he is "overwhelmed with happiness" to have his daughters back.

He said: "I'm over the moon to have them with us.

"It was a daunting experience, especially through this pandemic and knowing that if anything does happen to them we won't be able to be there to comfort them immediately."

"I kept reminding my wife that we had to make this sacrifice and to hang in there as one day we will be together again as a family."

Spr Taletawa also explained what he and his wife, Ruci Toka, have planned now their family are back together.

He added: "We've got so many things planned. Taking the kids around, especially up round the NC500, I'm looking forward to taking the kids there.

"We've also managed to register my eldest child at Kinloss Primary."

The Royal Engineers Association shared Spr Taletawa's good news on social media earlier this month.

They said: "After many months of planning and a second round of funding towards visas and plane tickets, it is a joy to finally see this family together in the UK.

"We are so proud we could help bring this family together again."