A Wishaw couple have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary following a chance meeting at the swimming baths.
John and Anne McAlveney tied the knot on February 27, 1957, and have been inseparable ever since.
The couple met at Motherwell Baths while John was on leave from The Army having served in the Middle East and Kenya.
“I saw her and went over to her in the pool and that was it,” said 82-year-old John.
“We met at the dancing a couple of times and got married about 18 months later.”
The couple were wed in St Patrick’s Church in Craigneuk with their reception being held in the nearby Crown Hotel in Wishaw.
After leaving the Army, John worked as a welder with Anne working for an electrical firm in Motherwell before being a conductress on local buses.
The couple, who have lived in Coltness for many years, have three children, David, William and Annemarie, and enjoy spending time with their five grandchildren and two great-grandkids.
John added: “Anne hasn’t been in the best of health over the past few years but before that she was always on the go. She helped out at the lunch club for the pensioners and helped out at kids groups.
“I preferred being a bit quieter and I think that’s why we have got on so well.”
Making the headlines around the time of John and Anne’s wedding included; the new US President Dwight D Eisenhower being sworn into office, Around the World in 80 Days winning Best Picture at the 29th Oscars, Egypt re-opening the Suez Canal following its confrontation with Britain the previous year.
The Treaty of Rome was also agreed establishing the European Economic Community - the predecessor of the European Union, between Italy, France, West Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
