Bubbly at the double for diamond Cullen couples!
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THERE was a remarkable double diamond day to enjoy for two neighbouring Cullen couples as they celebrated the same milestone anniversary just one day apart.
Wednesday, March 10 marked 60 years of marriage for William Barclay (82) and his wife Evelyn (79) while the following day their Binview Road neighbours Jim (82) and Shena McLean (80) were toasting their diamond wedding.
Although Covid restrictions meant the party the quartet had planned was postponed to a later date, there was nevertheless a socially distanced visit on both days from Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Charles Milne.
There were presents and cards aplenty, too, with special greetings on the occasion of their diamond weddings from the Queen.
Jim said: "We've lived next to Bill and Evelyn for 15 years but only discovered that our anniversaries were a day apart around two or three years ago when we were all out for a meal together.
"There was a party arranged but we've had to postpone that, but when things improve we'll definitely be catching up."
The Barclays both hail from the Hilton area of Banff, the couple going to the same schools, firstly in Hilton then to Whitehills Academy. Bill did get a taste of the city life for six years when his parents moved to Edinburgh, moving back up north when he was 12, but even at that tender age the rural life was most definitely for him.
A dance at Alvah Hall was to bring them together in the late 1950s before William popped the question and they went on to be married at Ord Church before heading to the Royal Oak in Banff for the reception.
A life in agriculture was to follow for the Barclays with Evelyn, who had been a shop assistant in Banff when she and Bill first met, soon settling into the role of a farmer's wife.
Bill said: "When we first got married I went to work for J Bruce & Son on a farm near Deskford.
"A few years later, in February 1969, we took over the tenancy at Whitenowse farm, also in the Deskford area, which we still have today. At that time, we started off with 152 acres and 40 cows.
"Over the years we took on a number of tenancies and in 2014 bought Starhill, near Grange."
The Barclays moved off the farm to Cullen in March 2007 but there were never any thoughts of taking it easy.
"I'm back and forth to the farm every day," Bill revealed.
"When we started contracting diggers Evelyn did the books and she still does the wages now.
"I still do some ploughing, too. I was 13 when I first started ploughing and was the Scottish champion in 1976. It took me all over the world, I was at 13 World Ploughing Championships.
"I went on to be the Scottish coach and then a judge."
Despite a very busy life on the farm, the couple found time to enjoy bowling, both at their home club in Cullen and at many others elsewhere on competitive duty. It was to yield them many trophies over the years although they have now taken a step back from the sport.
The Barclays have two children – Graham and Morag – two grandchildren, Laura and Owen, and two great-grandchildren, Rowan and Seth.
A dance in Keith was to see love blossom between the McLeans, with Jim getting the bus in from his native Elgin and Shena from Huntly to the weekly Saturday evening dances at St Thomas's in the town.
Jim, who was in the Seaforth Highlanders at the time as a bandsman where he played the cornet, and his new bride tied the knot in Huntly. Prior to getting married Shena worked as a shop assistant with Cruickshank's in the town.
Foreign climes were to call for the duo.
"We decided to get married after I learned I was getting posted to Singapore," Jim explained.
"Three months after we were married Shena was on a plane to Singapore to join me which was quite something in 1961 for a 20-year-old quine from Huntly!
"We had this big two-bedroomed house to ourselves, there was even a servant provided."
After a year in the Far East the McLeans returned to the UK, with Jim joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
A change of course was to beckon, though.
Jim said: "I bought myself out the Army and along with partners ran a chip shop in Reading.
"After that, we decided to move back north and we bought the chippie in Fogie, which we left in 1981 after seven years there. Shena spent 20 years as a carer once we left the chippie.
"We got a croft near Ordiquhill where we stayed for 25 years. After the family went their own way we moved to a bungalow in Cullen.
Love of music was to be lifelong for Jim.
"I taught in schools for 25 years and am a member of Turriff Silver Band."
Shena, meanwhile, was a member of various sewing clubs over the years and is well-known as a member of Banff Walking Club.
The McLeans went on to have two daughters and a son and have a granddaughter, Alice, aged eight, who lives in Glasgow.
Congratulating both couples on their respective big days, Mr Milne said: "I was delighted to meet Bill and Evelyn Barclay and Jim and Shena McLean on their diamond wedding anniversaries.
"I wish them good health and happiness on these momentous occasions."
