Leith stalwarts Jim and Pat are a golden couple

"True Leither" Jim Fegan, 80, has lived in the port all his life, and met future wife Pat Flynn just before beginning his National Service.

"It was just before the air force when I met Pat, but I only saw her occasionally. Nothing was really that serious, and I don't think she missed me too much because she was very busy working in Glasgow," he said.

Mr Fegan attended St Mary's Primary School, and then went on to St Anthony's Secondary School, leaving to start a joinery apprenticeship at the age of 14. He worked for a small joinery firm named John White's and moved to several other firms throughout his career.

Mrs Fegan, 77, was born in Dundee and moved to Glasgow when she was ten months old, going on to attend St Charles' Primary School. She started working when she was 14 as a kennel maid, and has since gone on to have many jobs.

The couple met through one of Mrs Fegan's relations, who was best friends with Mr Fegan's family. "We met through Pat's aunt, she was my mum's friend and I met Pat in her aunt's house one day," said Mr Fegan.

But Mrs Fegan said she wouldn't quite call it love at first sight. "We knew each other for about four or five years before we got married, and we were just good friends for ages, and then when Jim got back from the air force it all changed."

The pair decided to get hitched in October 1960, but not everything went exactly to plan. Mrs Fegan said: "We got married in Leith, and I had asked all my family to come through because my dad was giving me away.

"I was with my dad and the driver in an Austin Princess, and he took me up to St Mary's Cathedral. After waiting there for ten minutes, my dad started asking me if it was definitely the right place. The driver reassured me that it was, but told me he had never seen two brides getting married at the same place and time before. It turned out we were in the wrong place and there was another wedding going on inside the cathedral. We made it to my wedding just in time."

The couple eventually tied the knot in St Mary's Star of the Sea in Leith, and had their reception in their flat in Great Junction Street.

The lovebirds have revealed the secret behind their 50 years of marriage.

"We just took every day as it came along. We fell out, we fell in, but we both loved each other a lot and we knew that. We went to church as well, the Sunday service helped a lot. But I think it was just that we get along really well and we were made for each other," said Mr Fegan.

Mrs Fegan said: "We have two kids, Sharon and Sean, grandkids, Gregor and Alix."

The couple will be celebrating their anniversary with family and friends tomorrow at the Hibs Social Club.