Real Lives: Devoted couple still ‘so in love’ after 65 years

Published on 20/02/2012 12:03

A devoted couple from the Inch are set to celebrate 65 years of marriage.

Jean and Jack Brown are preparing to mark their wedding anniversary on Wednesday.

The couple, both 84, who the family have described as “so in love”, are well-known in the area thanks to the level of community work they have been involved in over the years.

Daughter Heather Wilson, 47, said: “They have been really active in the community. There probably isn’t anyone around here who doesn’t know them.

“If I’m down the shops for them everyone always asks how they are and wishes them well.

“They’ve loved the area and will never leave the home that they’re in.”

Like so many couples of their age the pair, both Edinburgh born and bred, met at “the dancing” while they were in their teens.

They married soon after and did a “sterling job” raising David, Carol, Heather and Craig.

After serving with the Royal Mechanical Engineers Jack went to work at the Tennent’s brewery when it was based at Fountainbridge.

He saw out the approach to his retirement as a caretaker for Edinburgh University, and made several friends everywhere he worked.

And while he was working Jean was not only raising a family, which has since gifted her and Jack “umpteen” grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she also immersed herself in local projects, including being the Brown Owl for the local Brownies, which allowed her to get to know generations of families in the local area, and organising the annual Inch Gala Day.

Mrs Wilson added: “That was a really popular event, everyone in the area loved it and she put so much time into it.

“But eventually for funding reasons it just couldn’t be put on any more, but you’ve no idea how much time and effort she put into that day.

“They are just still so in love after all these years, I’ve never known anyone like that.

And she joked: “They’re so in love it can be sickening.

“But they have just lived their lives for each other, they do everything for each other and have always been so close.

“They take so much joy from the big family they have, and in return we just really want to wish them well on this special day.

“They really deserve it, they’re a special couple.

“The children I’ve adopted and fostered over the years, they have always treated them so well, just like their own.

“They won’t have a party but it is a chance for everyone to appreciate what they’ve done.”