William Boyd’s Story

William Boyd – Buddy

I was born in 1949 at Cresswell Maternity Hospital Dumfries, to Douglas and Gwen Boyd, who farmed Newmains Farm, Duncow, near Dumfries. My education began at Duncow Primary School but then had to move to Beeswing Primary when dad sold Newmains and bought Kirkbank Farm, Beeswing. Seconday Schooling began at Cargenbridge (now demolished) but when dad sold Kirkbank and we moved again, this time to Dalbeattie, I changed schools yet again and went to DBT High, where I proudly became sports champion in 1965.

I have one brother, Stephen who was in the Marines but is now an HGV driver. I also had two sisters, one called Vivienne, who has sadly passed and Alison Dempster, who is retired from her occupation as a nurse, having served 40 years. I started working life as an apprentice ironmonger at Rankines then joined the Army as a Junior Soldier in 1965, in Troon. In 1967 I joined the regular Army (KOSB) in Germany which involved two tours in Northern Ireland, which is also where I met Jacqui, who I married in the Garrison Church, Belfast, in 1976.

We have two sons, the oldest Jamie, who works at the Cheese Factory, Lockerbie and has two children and Mark, a Joiner who has three children. Jaqui and I love them all to bits. I left the Battalion in 1977 and joined ICI Dumfries for 25 years and for the same period of time, was active in the Territorial Army.

I was delighted and very honoured to be given a special award in 2026, for having served 60 years in the Army. Jacqui also received an award. As regards my prostate, initially my GP at New Abbey Surgery had me go through all the scans and biopsies, and when the diagnosis was confirmed I decided against prostate removal, so instead I had five weeks of radiotherapy at the beginning of 2025.

I’ve had no ill effects since then and it seems to have worked very well. I’m very glad I came along to Prostate Buddies as it’s full of friendly informative people and is a great thing to help anyone through Prostate Cancer. And of course, I’m delighted to have been recruited as a Buddy and when I can, I help out at meetings and with campaigns including the ‘Awareness’ campaign in Spring 2026 when I was out and about at far flung places, delivering posters with my friend and fellow Buddy, Brian.