The dances that led Agnes and John to 60 years of marriage

Published on Saturday 21 June 2008 12:30

DIAMOND couple John and Agnes Bevridge celebrate 60 years of marriage after meeting on the dancefloor.

Agnes and John met under the glitter ball of the Palais dance hall in Fountainbridge.

The couple from Paisley Drive, Duddingston, who have three daughters and five grandchildren, have been together ever since.

Back then, John was working as an electrician with the Edinburgh Colliery Company before becoming an engineer with the International Computer Ltd, now Fujitsu, and Agnes was an insurance clerk with Pearl Assurance in the city.

Romancing for the sweethearts, who lived in Musselburgh, meant visiting the city's many dancehalls, including the Palais in Fountainbridge, where Sean Connery was among the patrons.

Agnes, who celebrates her 85th birthday on Monday – two days before their Diamond anniversary – said: "If he was there when I was I don't think I noticed him because you always knew who the good dancers were. Mind you, he wasn't James Bond in those days, so maybe that was it."

Husband John, 82, remembers meeting his future wife for the first time.

John joked at his home today: "I just fancied her. Straight away like, and she fancied me back. I knew she would. It was just one of those things. If she didn't fancy me we wouldn't be here today.

"There's no secret to being married for sixty years as long as you remember there can only be one of you right and that's usually the wife."

The couple married on June 25, 1948, at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto in Musselburgh, with a reception in a nearby hall.

Children soon followed, with Lynn, 56, followed by Joan, 51, and Patricia, 50. Today, the couple are grandparents of five.

They will celebrate their anniversary with a house party. Agnes said: "It's been a good 60 years together and there's not many folk who can say that, so I think we've done something right. Keeping fun in life and just enjoying yourselves is what makes the memories.

"Once you've got the ring on your finger you're stuck with him. But, joking aside, I don't think there are many married couples today who will be able to say the same at our age, which is a shame. I don't think the values are there today like they were when we were young."

And, despite their years, they say they are looking forward to their day and might just show the young ones a step or two on their wedding anniversary.