A ROSNEATH couple have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary by helping out two charities close to their hearts.

James and Joan Parker said they were "absolutely staggered" at the donations of more than £1,000 from friends and family.

The couple celebrated the milestone with a short service of commitment at Rosneath Church, followed by a buffet in the church hall surrounded by family and friends.

The pair, who met in Dumfries when Joan went to visit James’s mother with his cousin Anne, decided they had enough at home, and instead of gifts asked people to donate money which they divided between two charities, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and the RNLI.

Members of the RNLI's Helensburgh lifeboat crew arrived in Rosneath to accept the donation in person from James and Joan, while representatives from CHAS collected their donation from the couple.

James said: “We chose CHAS because it is such a necessary service for families of children with life limiting conditions. Our elder son Allan died as a baby in 1970 and there was absolutely nothing in the way of support from anywhere that we could turn to.

“I served a major part of my life at sea and have always admired the lifeboats. My younger brother also served at sea, Joan’s parents both served in the Royal Navy during the war, our son Andrew served at sea, as did our daughter Mandy and her husband Mick.”

They received donations totalling £1,040 which was divided equally between their chosen charities.

When asked what the secret to a happy and long marriage was James said: “I don’t know if there is a secret at all. We all have to play the cards we are dealt and do our best in any given situation.

“I do think a degree of faith in a higher power of our own understanding helps. Trying not to say ‘no’ too often helps also.”