Hugh Duncan

I am now in residential care in Corkey House.  At 80 years of age I look back over the years when in the early years of our marriage, Ann and I had our ups and downs with regard to our health.  Things were going well and we had a son called Thomas.

When Thomas was 6 years of age, Ann developed very severe asthma.  Many times she needed hospital treatment.  Later in her life she was diagnosed as having reactions with diabetes.   It was discovered her kidneys were not functioning properly and was on dialysis after one year she had a massive stroke and died in the City hospital on 24/4/2004.

Ann and I were married for 51 years and I can say she was a very brave and patient through all the sickness over 45 years.  She is laid to rest in Carnmoney Cemetery and written on her gravestone is these words:  Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ and till we meet again.  And looking back I thank God for her life with me and I must mention Dr. Bill Rowney for the wonderful attention to both of us over such a long period of time.  He has been a great friend as he reminded me that our friendship s 53 years.  I have good cause to that God for such a caring person he is not forgetting Mavis his lovely wife.

I remember as a boy some other boys in The Boys Brigade.  They wore little pillbox hats and navy like jerseys with matching socks.  I couldn’t join because my parents couldn’t afford to buy me a uniform.  I also remember the little girls going to Sunday school wearing little hats.  And the Girls Brigade wearing uniforms.

It has made me think about the change of attitudes of parents to their children spoiling them in many ways.  In the organisations I have mentioned they taught children the true values of life and building character to stand them ready to face the life ahead.

It seems that parents of today have no time to think about the values of the family or church, computer games have taken away family values and children have to fend for themselves and not getting enough exercise and eating junk food.  Children of the past spent as much time as possible playing football and outdoor games and exercising and were much fitter.