Married to a serving soldier for almost 20 years, which meant much time spent apart, shows there was certainly a loving bond between Marilyn and Brian McLeod who celebrate 50 years of marriage tomorrow (Saturday).
The Crailing Court couple first met at a friend’s wedding in Galashiels in 1968 and, following a two-year courtship, Teri Corporal Brian and Marilyn, from Birkenside, Gorebridge, had their own wedding in Borthwick Parish Church, Midlothian, on Saturday, April 25, 1970.
The bridesmaid was Eileen Wilson, a friend of the bride, and best man was Brian’s younger brother Edward.
Unfortunately, a honeymoon was not to be as the groom was given only three days’ leave, prior to being recalled to his regiment, 1/King’s Own Scottish Borderers, for Operation Banner in Northern Ireland.
With his father in the British Army and stationed in Berlin, the young Brian was initially at school there, then Burnfoot and the high school.
Brian enlisted in the army aged 16 and went on to serve Queen and Country for 23 years. During that period the couple were in 11 rented and married quarters, and were apart for a lot of that time.
The dedicated soldier saw service in Aden,
Malaya, Belize, Borneo, Kenya, Uganda and Germany, retiring in 1989 with the rank of colour sergeant.
Five years earlier, April 1984, Marilyn wanted to settle down in the town where her husband was born and they set up home in Crailing Court.
When they first met, his bride-to-be was a sewing machinist and intarsia knitter in Ballantyne’s mill in Galashiels. When in Hawick, Marilyn was a home help, then a carer, with Scottish Borders Council for more than 23 years. She retired in 2009.
After leaving army life, Brian adjusted to being a civilian thanks, he says, to the late ex-Provost Zandra Elliot and Councillor Stuart Marshall.
He had several jobs, including caretaker at police headquarters in Wilton Hill, in the building and civil engineering trades and, prior to retirement, with Scottish Borders Enterprise as an administration officer/ instructor for the Scottish Association for Mental Health.
He took over command of the Hawick platoon of the Army Cadet Force, and the 73-year-old has given the last 30 years to the Royal British Legion.
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