Couple who met on bus found route to happiness

Tom and Bella Forrest marked the milestone last month. The couple first met on a bus while Bella Livingstone, now 82, was working as a bus conductor.

Later, Tom, who is now 83, used to cycle from Bonnyrigg to Millerhill to visit her.

Tom worked as a fitter/turner at Mactaggart and Scott of Loanhead before completing his national service. The sweethearts exchanged letters while they were apart.

They were married on 23 December, 1949 at Newton Church, Newton village, near Millerhill.

It was definitely a white wedding with the snowfall even forcing their official photographer to perch on top of a tombstone to take the photographs and save the camera equipment getting wet.

After they were married, Bella went on to have a career in retail, first as a supervisor at Marks & Spencer, then as deputy store manager at the former Goldbergs department store in Tollcross.

Tom then went on to work in various engineering jobs before eventually retiring from Lothian Region Lighting Department in Bonnyrigg.

For their anniversary, the couple had "a lovely family get-together" and later a meal.

The were also paid a visit by Councillor Margot Russell, Depute Provost of Midlothian Council, to congratulate them on reaching their anniversary.

They had been worried some family members would not make it to their celebrations due to the weather, but luckily the big freeze did not stop the visitors.

The couple are very close, and since Bella suffered a heart attack and some other health problems, Tom has been his wife's carer.

The couple agreed: "We're well suited to one another."

Tom added: "You can't keep arguing, you have to get along. You've just got to get on with it, you've got to make it work, there's nowhere to run."

A keen golfer, he is still a member of Broomieknowe Golf Club and won the title of oldest B Class champion there when he was 64.

The couple moved into their current home in 1954 while Bella was expecting their son Tommy.

He will celebrate his 56th birthday on Monday.

Tommy and his wife Avril helped his parents celebrate their anniversary along with their granddaughter, Amanda, who arrived back from working in Canada just in time for the big day.

The couple are very proud of their granddaughter, who achieved a first-class degree in fashion and is about to embark on a new career in Tokyo.

The secret to a happy 60-year marriage is all about respect and understanding, according to the couple.

"It's give and take, that's all there is to it," Tom said.