A Vale couple who celebrated 50 years of married life last week said that sharing the same interests is the secret to a long and happy relationship.
Alan, 73, and Jean McIntosh, 70, met at a dance in Tullich, Aberdeenshire in 1967, with the couple dating for three years before tying the knot in the village on October 3, 1970.
And 50 years on an event from their wedding day remains fresh in Alan’s mind. He told the Lennox Herald: “We came back from the service to get our car keys from my mother’s house and drive down to Blackpool for our honeymoon, but we were locked out. We had to send the taxi driver back down to get house keys to let us in before we could head away!”
After they got married Alan, who worked for the police, was re-stationed to Alexandria - with the couple having lived in the town and Balloch ever since.
They have two children; Mark who has moved back to Aberdeenshire with wife Jane, and Lynn who lives with her husband Ronnie in Balloch. The couple also have four granddaughters; Heather, Amy, Katie and Ellice.
Reflecting on 50 years of wedded bliss, Jean said: “I would say that give and take is the secret, but it’s also important that we both enjoy the same kind of things and that we’re both happy in life. We enjoy walking together, going out cycling and travelling the country in our motorhome.
“We’re planning on going on a wee holiday or a long weekend with the rest of the family to celebrate.
“Obviously that’s still to be decided because of the restrictions at the moment though - so it may not be something we are able to do for a while yet.”
