Diamond couple share 60 years of great stories

Published on Tuesday 12 July 2011 10:38

ARCHIBALD and Frances Brown from Armadale have celebrated their diamond wedding.

The couple enjoyed a celebration meal on Sunday at the Fairway, in Bathgate, in the company of their close family and old friends, who were entertained with stories from their long and fulfilling life.

Sixty years after their wedding, at the High Church, in Bathgate, Archibald and Frances, both aged 83, said they are still showing the same happiness and devotion to each other.

Their marriage is an incredible success, considering that at the time of their first meeting Frances rejected Archibald's advances.

The couple first met at a dance in the old miners' welfare club in Armadale. The class, called "Sandy's learners", was run by Sandy Gorman.

"It was guys down one side of the hall and girls down the other side," said Archibald.

"Sandy and his wife danced first and then it was a dash to get a partner, as he wouldn't allow two girls to dance together."

Right after the dance, Archibald asked Frances if he could walk her home, or at least take the bus with her, but she said no.

At that time, with no mobile phones or obvious way to contact her, he said he could only hope Frances would want to meet him again.

But it was just a matter of time for Frances to say 'yes'. Archibald now has no doubt that: "We were meant for each other."

Archibald and Frances have one son and one daughter, and a 14-year-old granddaughter.

The couple spent all their lives in Armadale, getting fully involved in the local community. Frances worked in retail at DR Gordon's in Bathgate, while Archibald was a railway 'pug' driver.

This is not the only activity Archibald keeps busy with. He is a devoted commander and active member of the Knights of St John's, a charitable organisation working in hospitals. He also plays the organ at the church in St John's Hospital, and runs a fortnightly country dancing class in Dalmahoy.

Country dancing is one of the couple's many passions, as much now as at the time they first met.

Besides music, Frances and Archibald also enjoy walking and caravanning.

In their travels they have built a big fraternity of friends from every corner of the country.

Last week will always be remembered by the couple, who also met West Lothian's Provost Tom Kerr.

"Everybody has been so kind to us," Archibald said.

"It was a lovely week to celebrate our anniversary," he added.

"Every year has been wonderful and I would do it all again. In 60 years, we have had a few ups and downs, but never once we had an argument. We have always done everything we could for each other."