Edna and Ronald, wearing his Imperial Service Medal.

Big move
In 1937, after a few odd jobs in the city, he decided to up sticks for London. A big move for the adventurous 18-year-old.
Ronald said, “I’d read a newspaper advert for an RAF training course to make instruments for aircraft.
“A lot of people told me not to do it, they said I wouldn’t have a good life in London. But I wanted to do it, it sounded like a good career.”
Ronald didn’t earn much, but he was fortunate to meet another trainee from Glasgow and together they decided to rent a flat.
“We found a place in London for 10 shillings a week — you couldn’t buy your lunch for that these days.” He laughed, “Back then I was only on 25 shillings a week, so I didn’t have much to spend on food anyway.”
In 1939 Ronald’s work became vital with the outbreak of war in Europe. The RAF sent him to Stroud in Gloucestershire as a trainee instrument maker.
It was a fraught but exciting time for young Ronald. He worked on automatic pilot controls for Wellington bombers and was taken on the aircraft to test his work.
When he passed out of training he was posted to RAF Kirkbride in Cumbria. He found a good life there, not least because he met a lovely local lass.
Dance hall 
“My pal and I enjoyed going to the dance hall in Carlisle at the weekends. It was towards the end of one evening when we found a couple of girls for a dance. The last dance of the night was ladies’ choice and my girl came back to find me again.”
The girl’s name was Edna and she and Ronald have been together ever since. They married after the war in 1945 and stayed in Carlisle, where Ronald remained with the RAF.
“I completed a lot of training courses over the years so I learned many skills. I think I did more than most people who wouldn’t take the courses because they didn’t want to risk failing.”
Ronald’s dedication paid off, he rose through the ranks and was promoted to technical training officer, the position he held until he retired 18 years ago.
He has a daughter in Milton Keynes but he and Edna remain happy in Carlisle. “I’ve been lucky in life,” he says.
Ronald hasn’t visited Scotland since his sister in Glasgow passed away some years ago, but keeps in touch through Edna’s Sunday Post each weekend.
Ronald is partially sighted and Edna has mobility problems, but together they’re a great team. He goes out to collect the shopping while Edna helps him read.
This is how he came across our Sick Children’s Appeal.
“I read the article and thought I could help out. 
“I’ve put money in ISAs and managed to save quite a bit. I wanted to use it to help the children in hospital.”
Thanks to Ronald’s amazing generosity our appeal is £2000 better off. A wonderful man who is making life better for Scotland’s sick children.

IF YOU have a special reason for contributing to or raising funds for our appeal then we’d like to hear from you. 
It could be that you’d like to thank caring staff for the treatment they’ve provided in your hour of need. Or perhaps a relative spent time in one of Scotland’s children’s hospitals and the experience has left a lasting impression on your family’s life.
Whatever the reason, please let us know. 
We’d be delighted to share your experiences with our readers. And, who knows, it may inspire others to follow in your fund-raising footsteps.

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