CHILDHOOD sweethearts William and Lily Dempster celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary surrounded by family and residents at a care home in Peeblesshire.
The couple, both aged 85 and born in Edinburgh, moved to Peebles 20 years ago and now live in the Whim Hall care home at Lamancha.
William, known as Ryrie by family and friends, worked as an engineer at Ethicon in Edinburgh and was a talented artist and photographer. His wife worked in a lawyer’s office in the capital.
The pair both have a soft spot for Peebles and wanted to live in the area once they retired. “Ryrie was very proud that his photographs won a Postcard of Peebles competition,” said daughter-in-law Clare Dempster, from Peebles.
“Lily was an evacuee in the War and stayed in West Linton so she went to Peebles High School for a few years.” It was at the Trinity Academy in Edinburgh where the pair first met before they eventually married on October 9, 1954 at Bonnington Church in Trinity.
“They don’t understand a lot of what is going now but they are keeping well and theirs has been a touching relationship with gentle companionship,” said Mrs Dempster, who is married to the couple’s son Kenneth. Ryrie and Lily have another son, Stuart, who lives in Australia, and three grandchildren.
“We had a celebration at the care home with some cake, cards and flowers. Ryrie said something sweet and certainly knew what was going on but I am not sure that Lily knew what it was all about,” said Mrs Dempster.
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