Speech by William Davidson-Gall

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: William Davidson-Gall
Speech Date: Aug2004
Bride and Groom, ladies and gentlemen: Lesley and I would like to thank you all for coming. It's a real pleasure to welcome you to this happy occasion.

Before I go any further I better take out my hankie, all good golfers are prone to a bit of emotion, even Sam Torrance.

Mr and Mrs Nicholas Grove-White, Lady Jane and Nick, Jane and Grovie, they answer to all combinations, I hope you have had a wonderful day so far.

Lesley and I would like to welcome our new son in law, Grovie into our family and to thank Ion and Pat for raising such a fine young man. Even though he was a mistake.

Little did I think on a Saturday morning, 28years ago I would be giving my new daughter away today. On that morning we arrived early at Peterhead Hospital where I was shown into a room to wait nervously. The next thing I remember was a nurse giving me a shake HONESTLY I WAS NOT SLEEPING, come quickly the baby is arriving, yes Jane 10 days early one of the only times you have been early since, low and behold Jane arrived hanging onto her THINGS TO DO LIST. Now you are married Jane that is one off your list.

Jane grew up a contented girl, she liked school was a member of the Girls Brigade and Sunday School THE LAST TIME SHE WAS IN CHURCH. She was a bit of a swot; She even swotted for her tattie-rouging exam. She attended Aberdeen University and completed a degree in Law and French, then dropped a bombshell she needed to do a course at Robert Gordon University in marketing, MORE MONEY. Maybe it was fate – that is when she met Grovie. After graduating it was still not time for a real job, she went to France to improve her French and be a chalet girl during the Ski season, which was another piece of good fortune as one of her first guests was Fiona Hall, who was responsible for Jane being offered employment at Lex where she has been since 1998.

Unfortunately Fiona can't be here today because of work commitments, which is not surprising because most of the Lex Scottish office are here.

Grovie telephoned the Sunday before Christmas to ask if he could marry Jane. After about 6 years I thought it was about time LEAP YEAR WAS LOOMING.

Jane has had a few heart stopping moments before the engagement one in particular happened when they were attending Grovies cousin Louise's wedding in Canada. They went sightseeing in Toronto and in front of the famous CN Tower Grovie went down on one knee – BUT IT WAS ONLY TO TIE HIS SHOELACES.

Grovie I will now read an extract from a letter to illustrate to you what to expect from a Davidson, Flo Anderson wrote it to David Cruden Davidson her cousin in 1953,
“Alex. Mossie Davidson Junior (Ian that makes you MOSSIE 5th) lived to a ripe old age; he was very good looking, having like the rest of us no doubt inherited some of Margaret Maitland's fatal beauty! His family was quite large, Tom farmer at Banks, Charles farmer at Gateside, Willie farmer at Moss-side JANES GREAT GRANDFATHER, taciturn and virtuous Alexander doctor in England, unmarried Maggie, Mary Isabella, Alice and a few others I daresay”
For those of you not up on the English language the definition of TACITURN is GIVEN TO SILENCE, TALKING LITTLE and VIRTUOUS as MORALLY GOOD.
JANE you have quite a lot to live up too.

Success in marriage is not automatic. Like most things worth having you have to work at it. You may be tempted from time to time – RESIT THAT TEMPTATION. Sometimes you will be envious of others, you will experience frustrations and you will sometimes find each other annoying. GET OVER IT; you have made a commitment today that's worth keeping. You will learn to be tolerant, you will learn to give way and see the others point of view. If you are able to do these things then you will have the beginnings of a successful marriage.

What advice should I give Jane and Grovie.
Well Grovie other than the famous two words YES DEAR don't give a time when you will be home from the golf club.

In disagreements with one another deal only with the current situation – don't bring up the past.
Remember that the best relationship is the one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

When I asked Jane what she wants from this marriage she said LOVE, HAPPINESS and COMPANIONSHIP, when I asked Grovie he said to keep his GOLF CLUBS.

Remember marriage is not only about finding the perfect partner it is also about being one.

Grovie just a couple of quotes you should remember the first from Oscar Wilde
“WOMEN ARE MEANT TO BE LOVED NOT UNDERSTOOD”

And the second from Charlton Heston “THE KEY TO A LONG AND HAPPY MARRIAGE IS TO REMEMBER THESE THREE WORDS, I WAS WRONG.

Jane also remember that A GOOD WIFE HELPS HER HUSBAND WITH THE DISHES
And if you want something from Grovie ask for it – REMEMBER HE IS A MAN HINTS DON'T WORK.

Grovie it is with great pleasure that Lesley and I welcome you into our family, may you always love each other.
Marriage is the meeting of two minds
Of two hearts and two souls
May you be blessed with happiness that grows
With love that deepens and peace that endures
We wish you fun and excitement for today
Hopes and dreams for tomorrow
And love and happiness forever
Ladies and Gentlemen please stand, raises your glasses and drink a toast with me to the health and happiness of our
Bride and Groom
JANE AND GROVIE.