Romantic visit back to where it all began

When Dorothy Thompson used to travel to Edinburgh as a teenage clerical worker during the war she often had to sit in the luggage rack.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Oct 2016, 10:31 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2016, 18:53 BST
Bill and Dorothy Thompson travelled together on a train to Edinburgh recently to revisit where they met 70 years agoBill and Dorothy Thompson travelled together on a train to Edinburgh recently to revisit where they met 70 years ago
Bill and Dorothy Thompson travelled together on a train to Edinburgh recently to revisit where they met 70 years ago

But when the 90-year-old travelled to the Scottish capital on a pilgrimage to where she first met husband Bill, she journeyed in better style.

The couple, who live in Northumberland Avenue, Cleveleys, met 68 years ago when Bill was stationed in Edinburgh with the army.

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Dorothy was a teenager working in the offices doing clerical and wages work when she first set eyes on her husband-to-be.

Bill and Dorothy Thompson travelled together on a train to Edinburgh recently to revisit where they met 70 years agoBill and Dorothy Thompson travelled together on a train to Edinburgh recently to revisit where they met 70 years ago
Bill and Dorothy Thompson travelled together on a train to Edinburgh recently to revisit where they met 70 years ago

Bill had wandered in to find out if any of the girls would be able to sew and turn-up his new trousers.

Luckily for him, Dorothy was proclaimed to be the best young seamstress in the office. And that was the beginning of a relationship which has lasted for almost seven decades.

Sadly, Dorothy is now blind and suffers from dementia and Bill is deaf and has problems with his balance.

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As a result daughter Linda had to plan her mum’s trip to visit the attractions of Edinburgh with care.

Bill and Dorothy Thompson travelled together on a train to Edinburgh recently to revisit where they met 70 years agoBill and Dorothy Thompson travelled together on a train to Edinburgh recently to revisit where they met 70 years ago
Bill and Dorothy Thompson travelled together on a train to Edinburgh recently to revisit where they met 70 years ago

She said: “It was touch and go, right up to the time we caught the train to Preston.

“Mum isn’t very well at all but she was determined to pay one last visit to the place where she met dad.

“Edinburgh still holds a special place for them both and travelling there for four days brought back some very happy memories.

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“She travelled up to Edinbugh at 18 and because the trains were packed had to go in the luggage rack.

“She often arrived in the middle of the night and waited out time with the station master round his fire with a cuppa.

“Fortunately, Virgin Trains provided a far more comfortable journey.

“Mum is very proud of celebrating her 90th birthday in the same year as the Queen.”

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Last year the family were invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace due to Dorothy’s connection with the Blind Society.

For many years Dorothy worked as a lunch-time supervisor at Northfold Primary School, now Northfold Community Primary School, in Cleveleys.

Linda said: “Mum loved her time looking after the children. Years later they often stopped to chat with her as she pottered in the garden.”

Bill and Dorothy have three daughters Linda in Devon, Angela in America and Wendy in Cheshire, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Related topics:EdinburghCleveleysQueen