photo by Ron Craig

Springdale Country Manor resident David Imrie plants a kiss on the cheek of his wife, Betty, who also lives at the Peterborough-area long-term care home.

From Scotland to Springdale
and still in love
Monday, February 14, 2005 - Natalie Miller
Living on ration coupons, she opted to buy drapes for the windows rather than a wedding dress.

In July it will be 58 years since the day Betty and David Imrie wed in their native Scotland. Betty donned a suit and hat for the special day. The couple then began building their life together in a rented room of a house, with drapes on the windows.

Over the years, there have been many heart-shaped boxes of chocolate exchanged on Valentine’s Day. The couple will celebrate the occasion for sweethearts today at Springdale Country Manor, where they both now live.

David and Betty met in Glasgow in 1944, through a circle of friends. David, who served in the war from 1940 to 1946, was on a two-week leave from the army when they met.

“Everybody made a big fuss over him,” says Betty, as it was David’s first leave home.

The two developed a friendship and wrote letters to one another until David’s return when the war ended. By that time, “I was his girlfriend,” says Betty. “When he got back from the army we went out as a couple.”

The Imries occasionally took in a show, went lawn bowling or had afternoon tea at the art gallery. David returned to his job working in a car factory and Betty was employed as a shop assistant. A year after their 1947 wedding, Betty learned she was pregnant. The couple now has two daughters, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. The Imries moved to Canada in 1963, settling in Peterborough, in the city’s south end.

David worked for General Electric, while Betty was an active volunteer in the community, spending 15 years assisting in the palliative care unit at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. She was also involved in Activity Haven, a Peterborough centre for seniors.

After having a stroke, Betty needed assisted living and after a few stays at other facilities, she moved to Springdale in May 2004. David joined her in July so the pair could be together.

Nowadays, they play cards in the evenings with their co-residents and while David watches sports, Betty enjoys her movies. The two have their own hobbies and Betty says David has always given her independence. “He was always there for me though.”

The couple says they’ve stayed good friends and do have their arguments now and then. “We’re not perfect,” says Betty.

But after all of these years, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We never thought of anything else,” says David.