A steady stream of well-wishers called in at the Forfar home of Bill and Alice Petrie, to wish them well on their 65th wedding anniversary.

Callers included Angus Provost Ruth Leslie Melville, Angus MP Mike Weir and local councillors Bill and Glennis Middleton, while passing on a telegram from the Queen was Steuart Fothringham, deputy lieutenant of Angus.

By coincidence, Mr Petrie was able to show Mr Fothringham one of the many pieces of silverware he had won during over four decades on the local and international bowling arena.

The trophy in question was for the Angus Police bowling handicap competition, donated by Mr Fothringham's grandfather and won by Bill on 2001 and 2002.

With over 80 years of bowling behind them, the Petrie household boasts trophies galore, together with a multitude of memories.

A keen sportsman from an early age, Bill tried his hand at football (reaching junior level with East Craigie), cricket and golf, before taking a keen interest in bowls.

Bill won his first bowling trophy in 1962 and went on to win a string of honours at various levels. Perhaps his biggest triumph was winning the Clydesdale Masters competition for the elite in Scottish bowling after his success in the Kirriemuir open singles competition in 1984, while he was Forfarshire singles champ in 1970.

In addition, he won the singles title at Forfar and Montrose on three separate occasions and also won the Fraser Cup competition open to bowlers at all Forfar greens three times.

Bill also recorded honours while serving with the police, including a third place in the Scottish Police singles tourney a runner-up spot in the British Police pairs competition.

Alice was a founder member of the ladies section of the now defunct Reid Park Bowling Club, having served as president for several years.

Two of the high points in her bowling days were skipping a winning pairs team in the finals of the Scottish public bowling green contest and reaching the semi-finals of the singles competition.

Both Bill and Alice have been keen supporters of indoor bowling for many years, having joined the Arbroath club in 1966 before transferring to Forfar in 1989.

Bill served terms as president at Forfar and, as a qualified coach, became heavily involved in helping nurture young bowling talent.

Bill moved through the ranks of officialdom in the Scottish indoor bowling ranks, and, four years ago, had a hectic year of service as Scottish Indoor Bowling Association president.

Since then he has been made an honorary life member of SIBA and an honorary president of Forfar Indoor Bowling Club.

Born at Tealing, Bill was brought up and education in the Wellbank area. On leaving school he worked in a market garden at various farms before joining the police force.

Thirty years of service saw Bill service in Forfar, Tealing, Arbroath and Montrose, retiring from the rank of sergeant in 1976.

"I can remember my first wage," he commented. "It was £4 and ten shillings for a 48 hour week, and there was no paid overtime!".

Alice hails from Monikie and her working life included nannying and managing a china shop in Montrose, before the couple bought the Salutation Hotel at the East Port in Forfar, a hostelry they ran for 14 years, until 1990.

They then retired to Pitreuchie Farm, before moving to their present address in John Street, Forfar.

The couple are enjoying a more leisurely retirement these days. Bill remains an active member of Forfar Indoor Bowling Club while, a couple of years ago, Alice fulfilled a life-time longing to spend a holiday in the Isla of Skye.

The couple have one son, Alan, a driving instructor in Forfar, and a daughter, Jennifer, who resides in Friockheim. They also have four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.