The 87-year-old who won’t let a stroke stop her seeing AC/DC

An 87-year-old gran is heading to Murrayfield to watch rock giants AC/DC perform – just months after suffering a stroke.

Wilma McKenzie, from Penicuik, Midlothian, was taken into hospital in February when she began having trouble speaking and her face drooped.

Although she has since been diagnosed with communication disorder aphasia, the long-time rock fan used the gig from the Back in Black and Hell’s Bells heavyweights as motivation.

Wilma told BBC Scotland News she was determined to attend the concert with her son, Scott, and joked she would go even if she had to be carried in.

Wilma, who lives with her husband Kenny, is looking forward to the band’s first visit to Scotland since they played Hampden in Glasgow 10 years ago.

She said: “The nurse at the hospital came to see me, and I said to her ‘I’ve just got a ticket for AC/DC and I’m still hopeful of going’.

“She said she found that inspirational.

“It was definitely something to work towards.”

Wilma plans to get to the stadium early.

She added: “I’ve got a walker to help me walk, and I’ve been walking around the garden for 10 minutes every day to get me fit for it.

“I don’t know if I’ll be down the front though.”

Wilma is a big fan of Queen and Bon Jovi but has never seen AC/DC live before.

She prefers songs “with a good beat” compared to crooners like Frank Sinatra.

Music has been a source of comfort for the gran since she was hospitalised earlier this year after her daughter spotted signs she was having a stroke.

Wilma explained: “She was speaking to me, and suddenly said said ‘oh, your face is twisting’.

“She called the doctors and they took me straight to the infirmary.”

Wilma said she felt lucky, as she suffered no lasting effects beyond some trouble with her speech.

Suzy Thomson is a nurse with Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland and gave Wilma support and advice as she recovered.

She said: “Wilma is a very social lady but had lost confidence following her stroke.

“On my last home visit Wilma said she was starting to go out again to see friends and had been back to her club, the Evergreens, which was lovely to hear.

“Even when she was finding it very challenging to communicate, Wilma’s strength of character and sense of humour were evident, and I’m looking forward to hearing all about the AC/DC gig when I see her for her six-month review.”

The Edinburgh show is the only UK performance AC/DC will give on their ongoing Power Up tour.

Formed in Australia in 1973, the band have a devoted local fanbase thanks to their Scottish-born members Bon Scott – who died in 1980 aged 33 – and brothers Angus and Malcolm Young.

Malcolm died in 2017, after being diagnosed with dementia, but younger brother Angus remains in the band.

The group have often spoken about their connections to Scotland and how much they enjoy playing gigs in their homeland.