Margaret Faulds kindly shared this lovely photo. Many people with Auchentibber connections will instantly remember Robert Potter and Flora Dickson, two very well known local characters, who just happened to be husband in wife.
This happy photo is their wedding day on 24th February 1966 and their story is an interesting one.
Robert Potter was brought up in Auchentibber. Born in 1900, he left High Blantyre to go and live in Australia in 1923, a time when Auchentibber was going through some large changes. He did so, leaving behind his childhood sweetheart, Flora.
In 1965, still in Australia, he retired and decided to come to Scotland for a holiday, particularly to see the changes to Blantyre. In May 1965, he came to Auchentibber again, the place of his childhood and it was there he called upon Flora, sharing their memories.
In the picture Robert Potter or Bob as he was known was 66 years old and married Flora at High Blantyre Old Parish Church, marrying his sweetheart Flora Dickson of Broomhouse Farm , aged 63. Sixty guests attended the wedding in High Blantyre then later at a reception in Hamilton. After the wedding, he told reporters, “I think we will be living in Scotland. I don’t think I’ll go back to Australia , but that depends on the weather.”
From “Blantyre Explained” by Paul Veverka (c) 2017
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