Golden couple prove that love at first sight does exist

Henry was born in Edinburgh and raised in Prestonpans, while Ruby moved to nearby Musselburgh with her family from Glasgow when she was only five, as her parents were concerned about bombing raids during the war.

The couple first met in 1958 at a mutual friend's house in Prestonpans and enjoyed their first date at one of the town's frequent dances.

It was here that Ruby, who worked for the Inland Revenue until 1997, says the couple fell in love.

"I remember our first meeting very clearly, and afterwards we both knew we were right for each other," she said.

"In fact, I decided that night that he was the one for me. I never went out with boys much, but I decided he was the one."

While the couple might have realised they were destined to be together, fate had other plans, and immediately after that first date they were separated for more than six months as Henry was enlisted in the 27th Royal Artillery Battery and stationed in England.

While they did not see each other again for more than half a year, the two kept in constant touch through a series of letters and telephone calls, before finally meeting up for their second date.

They were married at Our Lady of Loretto Church on 27 February, 1960, and moved to Buckhaven in Fife after Henry landed a job as a manager with the Provident Insurance Company.

Just a couple of years later they moved back to Musselburgh, however, as Ruby had become homesick. Henry took a job as a driving instructor, eventually building up his own business. He joked that he had stayed in the job so long he wound up teaching the children of his first students.

The couple, who still stay in Newbigging, Musselburgh, celebrated their anniversary in the Prestongrange Bowling Club with more than 100 family and friends.

They were joined by their three children, Jacqueline, Evelyn and Kenneth, and their four grandchildren.

Ruby said: "We had a wonderful time and it was great to see so many of our friends and family turn up to help us celebrate.

"We've had a wonderful marriage and had three lovely children. We've been very lucky.

"It's difficult to say what the secret is for a long-lasting marriage, but I would say loads of patience and saying what you think is very important.

"It is also important to love each other and to work as a team for it to work. I couldn't have asked for a better husband – he's a wonderful man."