Gem of a couple
A popular former Stirling butcher celebrated the New Year by marking 60 years of marriage.
James and Sheila Ballingham, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on Wednesday, January 2.
The happy couple, who previously lived in St Ninians, first met at the Youth House in Dalgleish House, Dalgleish Court, Stirling, on September 19 1955.
It was the first time James had gone to the Youth House and he walked Sheila home. Unbeknown to Sheila, James lived just across the road from her, in Strathmore Drive, Cornton, and they started dating.
James worked in Bannockburn Cooperative and Sheila was employed at Hugh Ferguson & Son shoe shop.
James then left to do his National Service in January, 1956, forcing the couple to keep the relationship alive by writing to each other. He completed his military stint in 1958 and upon his return he started working in the family butcher shop, James Ballingham & Sons, in Stirling.
He latter became owner of the business and Sheila also worked there.
The couple tied the knot in 1959 in what was a double wedding celebration. Sheila’s sister, Fiona married her husband, Willie, on the same day. They wed in the North Church, Murray Place, and the reception was held in the Stirling Miners’ Welfare before they headed off on their honeymoon in Perth.
They have two daughters, Susan and Tracey–Anne, and four grandchildren – Christine, Pauline, Greig and Cameron. They also have another four greatgrandchildren, Stephen, Oscar, Sophie and Emily.
The butcher shop closed in 2000 and the couple moved to Kippen in 2002.