The obituary notice of Bette PIRIE

Unfortunately just hearing this sad news now. I, like Alasdair, will respectfully refer to ‘Bette’ as Mrs. Pirie. She was a kind, generous and thoughtful person. I have vivid memories of standing at the bus stop after school and Mrs. Pirie pulling her car over to extend the invitation, “Anyone for Bridge of Allan?!” Charles’ friends were always welcomed into her home and Mrs. Pirie loved to chat. She was vivacious and genuinely friendly. Over the years, even after I had moved overseas and my friend Charlie had passed, Mrs. Pirie always sent a card at Christmas with an update on the family. She will be remembered fondly.

Really sorry to hear about Mrs Pirie's passing. I have too much respect for her to dare to address her as Bette, although she would have been just fine with that. I loved her sense of fun but always underpinned by that decency, pragmatism and good old fashioned common sense that is so often typified by folks from the north. I was a good friend of Charles, still very much missed. A thoroughly decent man so obviously shaped by his mother and father, two tremendously impressive individuals who both left an indelible impression on me as to how one should conduct one's self in society. If you should be wondering why Sally is the fantastic woman she is, look no further than her parents. My grateful thanks to the Piries for being such a positive influence on me and for being great friends to so many.