Elizabeth and James Penman celebrated 60 happy years of marriage on Saturday, when they were joined by their family for a diamond wedding anniversary party.
The couple were both born and raised in the Tollcross area of Edinburgh, and lived just a few streets away from each other when they were children.
They first met at the North Merchiston Boys and Girls Youth Club in 1940, when they were just teena
gers, and instantly became the best of friends.
"The club was a boys club, but because of the war they started letting girls in, and that's how we met," recalled Mrs Penman, 81.
"Our first date was a visit to the old Regal Picture House on the corner of Lothian Road and Morrison Street. I can't remember what the film was, but we had to stand for ages outside in a very long queue."
Eight years after that date the couple eventually tied the knot, getting married at the Tollcross Central Hall on August 20, 1948.
Initially they lived with Mr Penman's family, but after a few years of saving were able to put together enough money to get their first house in Slateford.
At the time, Mrs Penman worked as an office assistant for the company that manufactured Edinburgh Rock, and later moved to join the Mother's Pride bakery in Sighthill. Mr Penman trained and worked as a stonemason in Edinburgh.
The couple were always keen on their holidays, and as well as trips around the UK they enjoyed regular excursions out to the caravan park just outside North Berwick.
They liked it so much that following their retirement in 1978 the couple moved out to the East Lothian coastal town, and feel it was one of the best decisions they ever made.
"We have both kept reasonably healthy and I am in no doubt that the clean sea air of North Berwick is responsible for that," said Mrs Penman. "We always used to love coming down here for days out, and we even stayed in the caravan park a few times, so we knew the area quite well before we moved here."
Since retiring Mrs Penman said the couple have just done "what old couples do", enjoying regular walks along the beach and visits to the local social club.
And they have also done their best to fit in as many holidays as possible, with a trip out to Spain planned for later this year with their family.
The couple have one son, Bruce, 55, who also stays in North Berwick with their daughter-in-law Sally, 48, and grandchildren Gregor, 12, Bobby, ten, and Alison, eight.
"It is nice having the family close by, and we are certainly looking forward to celebrating with them," said Mrs Penman before the party. "I think the secret to our long marriage is that we always try to get on with each other. We have a few shared interests, and that's important in any relationship."
The full article contains 505 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
