Milton Keynes family 'reunites' with round-the-world Zoom meeting during lockdown

Ted Hochstatter and his wife Angie live in MK but their relatives are scattered all over the globe.

Ted put together a Zoom meeting that allowed them all to chat online together for the first time. And he admits it probably would never have happened had it not been for lockdown.

"We had some co-ordination issues finding the best time so we would all be able to meet together and we had a couple of issues getting our technology working together, but it was a success and great fun," he said.

Taking part were Ted's sister Kalojean Fohe in New Zealand, his brother, Doug Hochstatter, and his fiancée Dana in Washington State, their sister Ruth Abbott in Alaska, her daughters Autumn Posey and Joe Beth Abbott Grimes in Alaska, his sister Kathleen Hochstatter Quinton in Washington State, a cousin Michael Olson, his wife Kim and grandson in California, and niece Malanata Fohe Hakaumotu and her children in Florida.

Ted, who is now organising more Zoom meetings, said: "This probably would not have happened, but for the current lockdown situation with the virus."

He has also used ZOOM during lockdown for meetings with his church, the Wolverton Town Band, and the British Red Cross.

"My wife Angela and I have actually scheduled a visit to Alaska in August but, even though we have purchased airline tickets, it is looking less and less likely. We may just need to rely on Zoom for our get together and reschedule our in-person visit for the future," he said.