Sinatra fan Jimmy does it his way to keep promise to late wife

Sarah McMullanBBC Scotland
News imageJim Moir Jim, a mature man with white short hair and wearing a light blue T-shirt raises his arm towards the "Hollywood" sign as he checks out the roof on his tour of the Capitol Records building.Jim Moir
Jim made it onto the roof of the Capitol building in LA

It took Jimmy Moir, a widower from Dundee, three years to keep his promise to his beloved late wife Gladys, but after a 10,000-mile round trip, he did it.

Jimmy, 82, lost the love of his life to cancer in 2023.

Before she died, Gladys made him promise to take the trip to Los Angeles that they had hoped to go on together.

And in fulfilling a dream they both had, the music-loving granddad has returned from Tinseltown a star in his own right.

News imageA close shot taken over Jimmy's shoulder as he looks at a beautiful black and white image of his wife, a blonde lady with a broad smile.
Jimmy says Gladys was "amazing" - they were married for 62 years

The couple were massive Frank Sinatra fans. They first met when Jimmy was 16.

They were married for 62 years, during which his love for the music grew.

Knowing his love for Sinatra, Gladys told him to make the journey to Capitol Records, where his idol recorded his music.

Jimmy said: "I always wanted to go to Capitol Records - obviously with Gladys, but unfortunately she died in 2023.

"Before she died she said, 'Jimmy, you'd better do it while you can'."

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Hollywood couldn't have scripted what happened next. After years of planning, the dream trip became reality.

He wrote to Capitol, sharing his dream, and was delighted when they invited him to visit.

Finally on his way to LA, Jimmy was seated next to a businesswoman called Jena Goldsack.

He charmed her with a bag of Scottish tablet and the influencer posted Jimmy's story on her social media.

She was flooded with love for "Jimmy from the plane".

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When the moment came to enter the famous Capitol Records building, Jimmy was overwhelmed.

"When I went to go into the building these three big burly security guys came forward. They said 'Yes - can we help you?' and I had to sign in on a screen."

When he sat in reception, Gladys was on his mind as he considered where he was.

"I just sat down and thought, 'You know, Jimmy, the people that have walked through this door - the talent, musicians, singers songwriters.

"I'm thinking of Nat King Cole, Sinatra, the Beach Boys, the Beatles.

"I really had to pinch myself. This moment was special.

"And then another two security guards came up with a large black box.

"They opened it, and the guy said to me: 'This is Frank's microphone'.

"I really filled up at that. I was overwhelmed to think he sang into that."

News imageJim Moir Jimmy looks emotional as he holds an old school chubby recording microphone beside its heavy flight case. The Capitol Records sign is behind him on the wall.Jim Moir
Holding Frank Sinatra's microphone was an emotional moment for Jimmy

While those dreams were coming true, more than six million people saw his quest on social media.

One got in touch to invite Jimmy to see one of Sinatra's old pianos.

Jimmy ate in restaurants associated with Sinatra and visited the singer's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Paramount Studios.

And by the time his trip ended, he'd been featured in newspapers and on CBS News in America

News imageJim Moir An image from the 1960s or Gladys and Jimmy - in black and white Gladys on the left with her blonde hair piled on her head and a Peter Pan collar dress, Jimmy with a stylish quiff and a suit and tie.Jim Moir
Gladys and Jimmy both loved Frank Sinatra from their younger days

With his feet back on the ground at home, Jimmy remembers Gladys.

"She was amazing - very beautiful and a very caring person - she was a hugger - she loved to hug people.'

He is asked what Gladys would have made of it all.

"She would be bewildered. But the family say she'd be very proud."

At his local social club they are calling him "Mr Famous".

He is loving it and proudly accepting "my 15 minutes of fame".

He is even considering his next trip - having been invited to Hoboken New Jersey, where Sinatra was born.

He wants others to think big too.

"Age shouldn't be a barrier," he said. "Follow your dreams."