Love keeps blossoming for botanists on anniversary

Published on 11/08/2012 12:00

THEY first met in a packed lecture theatre, just weeks after Britain had declared war with Germany.

More than seven decades on, Ian and Katharyn Callan are in a class of their own when it comes to romance.

The Callans first shared botany classes at Edinburgh University in October 1939, and today celebrate 70 years of marriage. The couple, who live in Monmouthshire, have five children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr and Mrs Callan both graduated with first-class honours degrees in 
botany.

Mrs Callan (nee Shaw), 94, was part of a small team of scientists that developed the anti-malarial drug paludrine during the Second World War. Mr 
Callan, 95, specialised in crop protection – particularly cotton and rice – and he worked extensively in Africa and the Far East.

Mr Callan said: “We had a wonderful time as students at Edinburgh during the war and have so many happy memories of our time there.”