´óÏó´«Ã½

It's a familiar story: a young girl in a children's home melts the heart of a millionaire who whisks her away from a hard-knock life to one of wealth and luxury. But this is not the fictional tale of orphan Annie and Daddy Warbucks — this is true.

In the spring of 1954, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were among the biggest stars in Hollywood. Famous for their popular westerns, the couple who were known as the King of the Cowboys and the Queen of the West, had taken their touring wild west show to Edinburgh.

As a new programme, The Roy Rogers Kid recounts, while on tour Rogers and Evans would make personal appearances at local hospitals and orphanages. In Edinburgh one of these was Dunforth Children's Home, where 13-year-old Marion Fleming was being cared for.

Marion agreed to sing for the Hollywood legends — it was a performance that would change her life completely.

Her rendition of Won't You Buy My Pretty Flowers? charmed the couple so much they later called the home and invited her to watch their show and join them for lunch in an upmarket hotel.

Marion pictured on a return visit to Edinburgh in 2019

"Everyone was gobsmacked," says Marion.

“We had lunch at the Caledonian Hotel, then I watched the show from the wings. Afterwards Mom [Dale Evans] said 'Would I like to come visit them for my holidays?'.

"I thought I would like to but part of me thought, 'It's not going to happen,'.

"And then they sent the tickets."

Marion travelled to California where she joined Roy and Dale on their ranch.

"Toward the end of my holiday there I thought, 'I really don't want to go back', says Marion.

A brand new family

The Rogers hoped to adopt Marion, but were prevented from doing so because they weren't British citizens. But Marion, whom they nicknamed Mimi, became their foster child.

The girl from the Edinburgh children's home was embraced by her famous new parents and six siblings. She even found herself introduced to US television audiences when the family sang together on . However, away from the limelight the Rogers lived a quieter life.

"When we were in the house we were just a family," she explains. "They weren't Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, they were Mom and Dad. They were very hands-on parents."

Not every child in care can hope to enjoy Marion's luck but she believes her story can inspire others.

"I think it encourages people to think that maybe there's something more for them. There's a bright spot in their life down the road, they just haven’t reached it. Because I'm just a regular gal that hung out and they ended up taking me home with them. So there's always hope."