David Wilkie and Gladys Salmon were born in the early years of the 20th century at opposite ends of Britain. They met in 1931 in the London hospital where Gladys was nursing. David was a young doctor just down from Edinburgh, but although Gladys had trouble understanding his accent at first, it proved no bar to romance. They married in 1936 and went on to remain happily married for nearly half a century. David and Gladys lived through enormous social and cultural changes. During 48 happy years together they produced three daughters and in later life had the joy of nine grandchildren. Merely Players has been written by their daughter Margaret, in her parents’ memory and as a tribute to their lives.