Boy from Burma chased and caught by Miss Fintry

You really never know how things are going to end up.

Malcolm Condie was born into a privileged lifestyle on the other side of the world and Pat Shepherd was a Fintry lass growing up in post-war Dundee.

But when they finally clicked, they formed a bond that has held them together for the last 50 years.

Malcolm and Pat’s story starts in Burma just after the Second World War.

As the youngest son of Lieutenant Colonel James Dickson Condie OBE, young Malcolm had a great start in life out in the tropical sun of the Far East.

His upbringing was strict but he was part of the elite in society. He and his elder brother James went to a traditional boysonly school and the family lived in a comfortable residence attended to by staff.

His father was originally from West Kilbride and was an engineer specialising in marine engines. When war came, he was already in the Far East, so joined the Royal Engineers, earned the Burma Star and rose rapidly in rank.

He married a lady from Mandalay, Pauline Claudius, and they had two sons. Malcolm, now 70, recalled: “When Burma became independent, things started to become more difficult. The new government wanted my father to stay, but he wanted to leave and we did, leaving a lot of our possessions behind, even my mum’s jewellery.

“We came back to the UK in 1959 and stayed in London for a few months as my father tried to find work.

“Finally he did, managing St Roque’s Garage in Ward Road, Dundee.”

It was as far from Burma, sunshine and servants as you could get.

Young Malcolm was 13 and found himself living in Ballumbie and going to Lawside School and then St Michael’s.

Pretty soon, this quiet young lad who found everything a little strange, was spotted by a bright and vivacious young Fintry lass called Pat Shepherd.

Pat said: “He just stood out from everyone else. I liked his slight tan and his dark hair and pretty soon I was chasing him.”

After school, Malcolm would walk down to St Roque’s to get a lift home from his dad — and Pat always followed him. He said: “I didn’t quite know what to do. I’d been to an all-boys school. I didn’t know anything about girls. I didn’t know how to speak to them. I was interested in Pat too — but had no idea how to go about it.”

Finally, in 1965, Malcolm gave in and the two went to the Gaumont cinema to see a Cliff Richard film.

But things were still very different for the two. Pat had been named Miss Fintry 1963 in a pageant, Malcolm meanwhile could still expect a slipper if he got home late from going out!

He said: “My mum and dad didn’t know about Pat for a while. I’d become an apprentice mechanic at the garage and when Pat and I came out in the open my folks accepted her.”

With money tight, the couple never got engaged but eventually picked a day and were married at Our Lady of Sorrows, by Father Paul Knowles.

Pat recalled: “The reception was in my mum’s house and our first place together was a little flat in Tannadice Street with an outside toilet.” Malcolm was at St Roque’s for more than 20 years before setting up a new garage with pal Iain Anderson in Arbroath Road.

He prospered, worked hard and sometime later established Glencross Motors in Johnston Avenue, which he ran for a further 20 years. Pat was typing manager at the Inland Revenue, worked for a property company for two years and for 13 years was a PA to the head of managed clinical networks based at Ninewells Hospital.

The pair’s daughter Angela, who is a nurse, is a mum herself and while Malcolm and Pat couldn’t be prouder of grandson Paul, they’re also eagerly awaiting their first great-grandchild who is expected in the summer.

This lovely couple have lived in Inchture for nearly 40 years and when asked about the secret for a long and happy marriage, Pat said: “Lots of give and take, always respect the other person.”

Malcolm added: “I do all the cooking, shopping and gardening. It seems to work.”

Congratulations to you both!