Farewell to the first

Her life was to change in 1963 when she went to a dance in Alyth. She met a young Black Watch soldier, Ronnie Proctor, home on leave and they spent the entire night on the dance floor. It was the beginning of a romance that was to last for more than half a century.

They were married in Abbey Church, Coupar Angus, on July 31 1965. Ronnie then returned to his base in Germany and Sonia remained with her parents, waiting for Army permission to join her husband. They did not qualify for married quarters because they were under 21. Instead they rented private accommodation which left them just £3 a week to live on.

When Ronnie turned 21 he landed smart, married quarters at half the cost.

First son Roland arrived followed by Frank and a few years later Fiona.

By 1968 the Proctor family was at the former US airforce base at Kirknewton, near Edinburgh, where Ronnie was promoted to sergeant.

Next stop was Rodd Road, Dundee, and then on to Kirkcaldy. In January 1972 the family relocated to Hong Kong. During the 1970s The Black Watch undertook tours of duty in West Belfast while soldiers’ families remained under armed protection in Colchester.

Ronnie then had a spell as an instructor at Sandhurst before another posting to Northern Ireland.

In the Silver Jubilee year of 1977, the couple were invited to a garden party at Hillsborough where Sonia met the Queen for the first time.

After a spell at Catterick Garrison while Ronnie was on tour in Belize the family returned to Scotland. They were based at Bridge of Don.

Then in 1981 it was back to Germany where Ronnie became Black Watch RSM and Sonia, together with the commanding officer’s wife, looked after the welfare of battalion wives.

Another day was spent with royalty in 1982 when the Queen Mother visited The Black Watch on their return from duty in Canada.

The need for a permanent family home led the Proctors to settle in Kirriemuir in 1985.

“Although Sonia missed the excitement and camaraderie of Army life with fellow wives, she settled down to life in Kirriemuir. I spent another four-and-a-half years in Northern Ireland and 18

Sonia was a huge support when husband Ronnie was provost Sonia Proctor was devoted to helping hundreds of Black Watch wives