Diamond couple recreate wedding day 60 years on

Adam and Christine Hodge's wedding day on 25 March, 1950 was so special that they decided to recreate it as a unique way of celebrating 60 years of their lives as a married couple.

The pair had a blessing in St Mungo's Parish Church, Penicuik – the same church they were married in all those years ago.

The service was held on the same date – and even the same time – and was attended by family members and some of the couple's original wedding guests, including Mrs Hodge's original bridesmaid.

Mrs Hodge, 84, said: "It was lovely. It was my husband's idea.

"He said he would like a blessing and I was just chuffed with that.

"We had it at 3pm, exactly the same time we got married, and it brought back lovely memories. I even had my bridesmaid Helen beside me.

"There's not many of us live to this age so we are very lucky.

"I'm delighted and thankful I have still got him beside me."

Mr and Mrs Hodge, who were both born in Penicuik, met at the Co-op bakehouse in the town where he worked as an ovensman.

Mrs Hodge was also employed by the Co-op.

Mr Hodge, 88, served with the RAF during the Second World War and later worked with Midlothian District Council in the landscape department until he retired at the age of 64.

Mrs Hodge had part-time jobs in Penicuik, including working as a sales assistant at the Co-op and working at the chip shop at The Tower, also in the town.

The couple have three daughters – Alicia, Janis and Frances – and son Craig.

The children all live nearby, with the exception of Alicia who lives in Aberdeenshire.

They also have six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A few days after the church blessing, their daughter Janis organised a party for her parents, which was attended by family members from across the UK.

The party took place in the town's Royal Hotel as the couple's original reception venue, The Masonic Arms, has since been knocked down.

Mr and Mrs Hodge still live in Penicuik, in the town's Cranston Street, where they spend most of their days together.

Mrs Hodge is a member of St Mungo's Church and for many years her husband was a volunteer at the Broomhill Day Centre, which he now attends twice a week.