Classmates celebrate 50 golden years together

Mina and Walter Todd joined the same class at Seafield Primary School in 1949, but only became friends years later when Mina attended Whitburn and Walter began at Barrhead.

"She had her own friends and I had mine, so we didn't really mix," said 72-year-old Walter. "I was more keen on playing football."

Then in 1953, Blackburn chose the then 14-year-old Mina as its first Coronation Queen. Walter, a Scouts Guard of Honour, saw her drive by on a horse-drawn carriage. "That's where we started to notice each other a bit more," Walter said.

Some time later, the teenagers met again through their church and attended the same fortnightly dances.

"We went with a group of friends and I always looked forward to ladies' choice," said Walter. "She managed to get my attention."

Walter asked her out to the pictures when he was 18, and three years later they married, on 26 March 1960, at Blackburn and Seafield Parish Church.

During early married life, they lived in a room with Mina's grandmother and then with her mother. Soon after, they moved to their first house in Blackburn, where they had two daughters and a son. They now have six grandchildren.

For the past 30 years they've remained in their current home, where Mina enjoys gardening.

They are also both heavily involved with Blackburn and Seafield Parish Church. Walter is secretary of the men's group and is part of the local male voice choir.

Mina, 71, is secretary of the women's group and president of the women's social services group.

Before retirement, the couple had varied careers. On leaving school, Mina worked in a shoe shop. When she married, she worked at a Blackburn painting shop for 15 years before she became a carer for the council.

Walter was an electrical engineer for Scottish Oils, and eventually became a draughtsman for a distribution company.

The couple marked their 50th wedding anniversary with a party at Blackburn Bowling Club.

"It was very good to get everyone together," Walter said. "We both had a very good night."

The couple were pleased to have so many family members and friends there to celebrate their long marriage.

But Walter admits it has taken some work to get to where they are today.

"You've got to work at it," he said. "That's a problem lots of the young people have to day. The first sign of a problem and they give up.

"You hear about these people that never have an argument and it's all lies.

"I always say that there's nothing wrong with a good debate as long as you share the victories."