Are you both Falkirk born and bred?

Tom - Yes we were both born in Falkirk but Myra moved down to Dagenham when she was two, was evacuated back up to Falkirk and also stayed in Rutherglen and Airdrie.

Myra  - When I was 11, my father died and I came back to live in Falkirk. I was christened in Falkirk Old and my family’s links with the church go back quite far – my great grandparents came to the church in the 1890’s.

When did you join the church?

Myra - We joined just before we were married. Wilson Leslie married us and we had to change the date of the wedding because he was unable to come to the reception!

Tom – I attended Grahamston Parish Church and came to Falkirk Old in the 1950’s and joined the church.

What did you do in your working life?

Tom - I did a BSC in engineering at Glasgow University. Then when I left I did my national service in Singapore.  I worked for the Water Board for three years. I then did an MSC at Birmingham University and got a job at Glasgow University doing research and later lecturing. I lectured there for 30 years.

Myra – I was a primary teacher. I taught before my family arrived and went back when the youngest started school. I took early retirement in 1986 as I was looking after my mother who lived with us and a great aunt both of whom were in poor health.

What family do you have?

Myra – We have two sons and our younger son has a son and daughter. They live in Falkirk and our older son is in Edinburgh.

In what ways have you been involved in the church over the years?

Myra – When I was 15, I became a Sunday School teacher and I helped with the Bible Class. We have both helped with Youth Club, the M’eating Place when it started, have done bible readings in the Church and at present we help with Traidcraft once a month and also with Traidcraft coffee mornings.

Tom – I have been an elder for over thirty years and have served on the Peace and Justice group and Finance team, but my main involvement has been with the building – serving on the property team and latterly Buildings Management for over 15 years.

Myra – We also both help with the Christian Aid Booksale. We find that this is something we can do now that we are not so able – we cover some of the duties and dispose of the books at the end. This year we also recycled some of last year’s books which had been kept in storage. I feel that it is something worthwhile to do.

What are your hobbies?

Tom – We are both interested in genealogy and have done a lot of research on our family tree. We also both like the garden.

Myra – We also love going to the theatre and we are subscribers to the Lyceum theatre where we go once a month, as well as visiting Pitlochry theatre once or twice a year. Sometimes you are uplifted and sometimes downcast but we enjoy it! We also enjoy travel and have visited Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand as well as many part of Europe. Tom was visiting lecturer at Perth University in Australia for six months in the 1960’s and we loved living there.

You must have seen many changes over the years

Myra - It’s great to see the families we have at church, but there are not as many families as there used to be when we needed two double decker buses for the Sunday School trip!

Tom – When we were at Hallglen, there was a greater sense of fellowship – I think that was because we all sat in different seats. We seem to have drifted back to sitting in the same seats.

Myra – But there is no reason why we shouldn’t have that sense of fellowship in the Church. What I do find is that if everyone sits in different seats and moves around, it is harder to notice when someone is missing and hasn’t managed to church. Sundays are different  now – people are very taken up with material things and shopping on a Sunday is now taken for granted.

What were the happiest and most memorable times in church life for you?

Myra – I remember processing from Grahams Road Church (which no longer exists) back to the Old Parish when we had been out the building for roof repairs. We were led by Leith and that

was a very special service. As was the day when we returned to this building and Mr McDonald led the service – it was also a really joyous occasion.

Tom – And of course our wedding (in the pouring rain) and our sons’ christenings. I also enjoyed the socials at Falkirk High school with Bill and Wilma Page organising the catering and the 175 celebrations.

Myra – There are times when you get a real “lift” from a service and when it touches you personally.

Is attending church important to you?

Myra – Yes it is very important. Our two sons went to Church and one joined but they don’t go now and I yet I believe they have Christian values. I always find that time in church is a peaceful and calming time and that the service often puts things into perspective.

Tom –  It’s like a car which you need to take into a garage – you can’t be a Christian and not go to church.