Popular event

“I was interested in the recent feature on the 1985 Dundee marathon,” emails Duncan Leith of Elie. “It was a hugely popular event in the 1980s, partly organised by my late friend, Duncan Mchardy.

“I ran my one and only marathon that year along with my training mate, Ron Mcarthur. We would run from Broughty Ferry to Barry Buddon lighthouse, followed by a liquid warm down in the Ship Inn.

“The race day was mild to start with and we finished in a respectable time for a pair of confirmed cyclists. However, the slower runners had more than the road and the miles to contend with that day. The skies darkened and the temperature dropped.

“A blizzard hit Dundee and hypothermia and abandonments became the fate of many. Fortunately, we were back at the Marryat Hall by then – eating, drinking and shamefully smirking.” for people being invalided home and Deolali has entered our language as ‘doolally’ – a bit mad.

“Father arrived in Deolali on April 4 1945 and must have had a fast passage home as he arrived back in ‘Blighty’ a month later on VE Day. He recalled walking from Dundee Station up to the family home at Dronley, and a few days later, on May 17, he married Irene Henderson in St Andrews Parish Church, Dundee.

“The reception was held in Dronley, and the cake, as so many were at that time, was baked from collected ration coupons. The photograph, below, shows my parents cutting the cake in the dining room.

“There are many questions unanswered in this story but both Father (2007) and Mother (2009) have died and it is too late to ask. The moral: Ask all the questions while you can!”