Cigarette pack scrawl sealed love story
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THE crate of cigarettes could have ended up in any number of places, yet it was destined for the Royal Army Service Corps stationed in Ostend, Belgium, at the time.
Unpacking the box, a Moray serviceman noted the scrawled name and address of a young lady offering to be pen friends, and replied.
Elgin couple Dave and Nan Cameron have been married 65 years, having become sweethearts thanks to the chance war-time correspondence.
Although they knew each other from their dozens of letters, they spent just 23 days in each other’s company before marrying at Croy, Dunbartonshire, on July 9, 1946.
Mr Cameron still counts his lucky stars that the crate ended up at his feet.
"The cases of cigarettes were coming in for the troops and there were about 30,000 in a case. My wife worked as a supervisor in the cigarette factory, so she put her name on one of the boxes that I opened and I thought I would write back," said Mr Cameron (86).
"The first time I came home on leave after that, I met Nan in person. The second time I came back we got engaged, and by my third leave we were married."
Mrs Cameron (85) said they got on instantly, despite initial nerves. "We met for the first time in Buchanan Street station (Glasgow). I remember wondering what to expect and hoping he wasn’t disappointed," she said.
Shortly after the wedding, Mr Cameron was demobbed and, with a job waiting for him at the electricity board, the couple set up home in Bishopmill and went on to have five children – Frances, Marie, Moira, David and Ian.
As a young couple, they ran a youth club at St Sylvester’s and organised table tennis competitions as well as camping expeditions for youngsters. They also ran dances for local people and Army personnel, based at Pinefield at the time.
Mr Cameron later moved to Lawsons, a wholesalers at the foot of Lossie Wynd, where he remained for 28 years until his retirement, aged 64.
After raising the children, Mrs Cameron worked at Cairns, a ladies’ clothing store on the High Street, before helping out at her daughter’s Batchen Street shop, Carmichaels.
They have lived at their Harrison Terrace home for 56 years, having purchased the property in the late 50s for £6,750.
"I could hardly sleep at the time thinking of the debt we’d taken out," said Mrs Cameron, who still attends weekly fitness classes, swims, and helps her husband tending the garden.
Of the key to a long and very happy marriage, Mr and Mrs Cameron said they work well together. "We were very lucky because it has worked out for us. We pulled together.
"Don’t imagine it’s all lovely dovey, but we haven’t started throwing things just yet," Mrs Cameron joked, adding: "We just seem to gel."
The couple’s five children, 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren – most of whom live locally – threw a 65th anniversary celebration at the Eight Acres Hotel.
Having requested no presents, more than £300 was raised for the Archie Foundation.
