'Give and take' secret to the Whitsons' wedding

The couple first met in 1958, when they attended one of the regular local "teenagers dance" events held at the old Ormiston Institute.

And it seems that it was almost love at first sight, as after that initial encounter the couple began going on regular dates in the area, and just a few years later they were married.

Their ceremony was held on September 10, 1960, in the Manse of Ormiston Church, in front of the Rev Mathieson, before a reception at the nearby Hopetoun Arms Hotel.

Both Mr and Mrs Whitson came from large families. Born in Dirleton, Muriel, 70, was the eldest of four daughters born to Mary and Tommy Aitken, and along with sisters Nita, Evelyn and Doreen attended Ormiston Primary School, before going on to study at Ross High School in Tranent. Her father worked at Oxenford No.3 Colliery.

Jock, 72, was born in Pencaitland, the sixth of nine children of Nell and Dodd Whitson. He had five sisters - Margaret, May, Betty, Jean and Anna - and three brothers - George, Jim and Robert.

He attended Pencaitland Primary School and Preston Lodge High School in Prestonpans, before finding a job as a gardener at the former children's home at Tyneholm, Pencaitland.

Like many local people at the time Mr Whitson followed in his father's footsteps, taking a job in the coal industry at Oxenford No.3, but it was not for him and he later found work in the building trade, an industry he stuck with for 12 years.

He then got a job as a shiftman at the maltings in Pencaitland, where he worked for 23 years, before being made redundant ten years ago.

When Mrs Whitson left school she found work as a clerkess at the boot-repairs department of the local Co-operative Society, based in Bridge Street, Tranent. She later transferred to the creamery department, where she worked until 1961, when the couple started their family. She later worked as a home help in Ormiston for a number of years in the 1970s.

The couple's first home had been at the Co-op Buildings in Ormiston, but in the early 1960s they moved to the house they still live in today, at Meadowbank, Ormiston.

Mr and Mrs Whitson have two daughters - Moira Hogg, who now lives in Tranent, and Eleanor Brown, who stays in Ormiston - and two grandchildren, Kirstin and Sean Brown.

The couple celebrated the actual day of their 50th wedding anniversary quietly at home, but were joined by their family for a special dinner at the Goblin Ha' Hotel, Gifford.

Asked about the secret of their long and happy marriage, Muriel laughed and said it was down to "a bit of give and take."