A GARELOCHHEAD couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with family and friends recently – by renewing the vows they made 60 years ago.

Sandy and Frances Kelly were joined at Lochside Care Home in Shandon by Frances's bridesmaids from the day the couple tied the knot – her own sister, Joan Etchells, and Sandy's sister, Anna Sinclair – and by Anna's cousin, Brian Kennoway, who had been an usher at the wedding in 1957.

The Rev Christine Murdoch, minister at Garelochhead, Craigrownie and St Modan's parish churches, performed the ceremony, at which Frances's wedding ring was re-sized and blessed after it had to be cut off some time ago when Frances suffered a wrist injury.

The couple and their guests enjoyed a buffet lunch and drinks provided by the home, and were presented with anniversary gifts – including a CD with a recording of their first dance song, The Anniversary Waltz.

The couple shared photographs, cards and memories of their lives together – and were especially delighted to receive a card from the Queen in recognition of their anniversary milestone.

Frances told the Advertiser: “We met at the dancing in Currie village hall, near Edinburgh – Sandy came from nearby Balerno and I was from Leith.

“He was a good dancer, and he was good looking too. We just seemed to hit it off!”

The couple were married by the Rev J.B. Herriot at Claremont Church in Leith on February 2, 1957.

Sandy worked as a master baker in Balerno and Frances as an office worker with a variety of firms in the Edinburgh area, before the couple moved to the west coast to become steward and stewardess at Helensburgh Golf Club in 1969.

“We were there for about four years,” Frances continued, “and then we moved to Faslane, before it became a navy base, when it was still a ship-breaking yard.

“I worked in the office there and Sandy was in charge of the bar and kitchen, but we were both made redundant and lost our jobs and our home when the Navy took over.

“But Sandy got a job at Blairvadach Outdoor Centre, working in the kitchen as a chef, which he really enjoyed. We ended up in a council house in Garelochhead, and we've been there ever since.”

Asked to describe the secret of 60 years of happy marriage, Frances said: “Every marriage has its ups and downs, and we had a lot of sunshine along the way, but I suppose the secret of success is learning to weather the storms.”

Katie Sutherland from Lochside Care Home added: "All at Lochside wish to extend their huge congratulations to Sandy and Frances and our thanks for allowing us to share their special celebration."