That woman deserves
a medal!
 They joined the church choir together and love blossomed. Romance was delayed when David’s National Service saw him stationed in England. Wendy wrote devotedly, but the letters never reached David, who thought she’d forgotten him.
When he came back to Edinburgh he hoped she would still be his. “I was still there!” said Wendy. They were married in 1954. Wendy was 24 and David 22.
“I was her toyboy,” laughed David, who still drives a black cab in Edinburgh.
Proud
At his side was his brother and best man Jim. He said, “I remember it as though it was yesterday. David was the happiest man on earth.” Fifty years on, they’re the proud parents of Douglas and Kenneth and grandparents of Jennifer (20), Samuel (13) and Callum (7).
David recalled, “I said in my speech that everyone must be amazed that I’ve been married 50 years, I hardly look old enough.” Jim quipped, “You see what Wendy has to put up with!”
On September 18 they celebrated with 83 of their closest family and friends at the Grosvenor Hilton. Guests came from far and wide. David’s brother Ian and his wife Wanda came from Canada, and their son Kenneth travelled with his family from Sydney.
Wendy, a retired kilt maker and seamstress, said, “We had such a lovely time, it’s all been quite hectic. We had another celebration at Greenside Church last Sunday with the congregation.”
David said, “As a surprise I asked the organist to play Rubinstein’s Melody In F for Wendy. It was played at our wedding as we signed the register.”
Wendy admitted, “I didn’t even notice, that’s awful isn’t it?” David added,
“Everyone was telling me I was such a romantic.”
Character
A highlight of the evening was when Jim presented Wendy with a medal, engraved ‘You Deserve This’, for putting up with his brother all these years.
He explained, “David’s quite a character. Wendy hardly gets word in edgeways.”
After a lifetime together the couple didn’t want any presents and decided to ask their guests to donate to CHAS.
Wendy said, “When you get to our age, you have enough. You’re trying to clear the house not add to it. It was David’s idea to get everyone to donate to CHAS.”
David added, “I read about CHAS every week in The Sunday Post and wanted to help.”
“I look at my own children and grandchildren and am so thankful they’re healthy,” said Wendy. “You don’t realise just how lucky you are.”
Debbie Traynor from CHAS said, “Truly fabulous! This is a wonderful celebration of their marriage and an amazing gift to the children. It’s a fantastic gesture and will make a tremendous difference to Robin House when it opens.” |
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hospice@sundaypost.com
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Jim (centre) presents Wendy with her “long service” medal while David looks on.
