July 18

As we'd missed our tea, David announced that we'd have to polish off two 'mermaids' (A
‘mermaid’ is a fish supper in Govan!) before travelling home. We found a chippy but,
unknown to us, it was beside the local football ground where, also unknown to us, a
match had just finished. As a result, the queue was half way down the street by the time
David had parked his car.
Undaunted we joined it and David proceeded to perform one of the best stand up routines
I've heard. By the time we got in the shop, the other customers were applauding him and
when we were served, the shop owner pleaded with David to stay.’
Here in Peebles, David was a Callant; a member and past-President of the Rotary Club; a
member of the Guildry Corporation; and a past Warden of Neidpath. There was scarcely a
more kenspeckle figure to grace the streets of Peebles, not to mention the surrounding
countryside.
After a visit to a house high up the Manor Valley with his assistant, David noticed a lamb
on its own. It was decided that it must be lost and in dire need of its mother. There was
nothing for it but to stop the car, catch the lamb and take it down to the nearest farm.
David managed the first, struggled considerably with the second (observing it was like
trying to catch a Hawick winger) and the assistant was detailed to hold the beast as
together they accomplished the third.
To their surprise (and subsequent dismay), the farmer was less than overjoyed.
Apparently the lamb had had to be quarantined and would have to be returned to its field.
It was a long night although both saw the funny side after some typically liquid manse
hospitality.
One cannot possibly cover every area of David
MacFarlane’s life in the course of the limited time
we have this morning. Inevitably there will have
been omissions. It is, how ever, to the most
important aspect that we now turn.
David was a devoted husband and a wonderful
father and grandfather, as well as a much loved
brother, brother-in-law and uncle.
When the young David was appointed Probationer
Assistant at Dunblane Cathedral, Penny Broadfoot was a member of the Choir. It
happened that the Assistant sat facing the choir, much to the delight of this particular
assistant and instant attraction grew quickly into strong affection and, soon, love.
Penny had arranged to go to Canada for an extended visit to her aunt and uncle. Clearly
the pressure was on David to win his young love, and so he popped the question. Penny
still went to Canada but only after she and David had become engaged.
Penny and David were extremely well-matched, complimenting one another in so many
ways. Penny took her role as lady of the manse seriously but with her characteristically
light touch. In the garden, Penny was in charge of the flowers, David the fruit and veg
and he was very proud of the fact that the manse family was self-sufficient in fruit and
veg. He loved to treat visitors to the manse to, as he put it, “a walk round the policies”.
They had 11 very happy years at Aberlady before coming to Peebles in 1970 to begin a
wonderful 27-year ministry. During that time there were many, many super parties at the
manse. David and Penny loved to entertain – Penny creating beautiful meals, frequently
served by the three boys, and David very generously attended to liquid sustenance for the
guests.
From 1974 the annual family holiday was spent in the small township of Borrisdale on the
Isle of Harris.