Posh party is the icing on the cake for golden couple

A couple who had their first date in the local fish and chip shop have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a posh party.

Paul and Annette Kavanagh, who have both lived in Edinburgh their whole lives, met at Murrayfield Ice Rink through mutual friends when they were both 18 years old.

Mr Kavanagh, now 71, who originally came from the New Town, said he swept Mrs Kavanagh, 70, off her feet by taking her to the local chippy for a fish supper and a coke.

He said it was all he could afford at the time and that despite the cheap date, the pair had fallen in love and became engaged three years later.

They were married at Hillside Church on 27 February 1960 amongst 20 family and friends. But the wedding reception didn't go quite to plan when Mr Kavanagh opted to buy a cheap whisky and discovered upon opening it that the liquor had been diluted.

He said: "That taught me not to be cheap. I had to run to the nearest off-licence and buy some more whisky.

"The honeymoon didn't go particularly well either. As we were so hard up we decided to get the train to Glasgow and stay in a hotel, but it was so cold and miserable that we came back after two days."

Mrs Kavanagh, originally from Broughton, added: "We didn't do anything particularly special for the engagement either, it just kind of naturally developed. But despite any ups and downs we've had, we have always been happy together."

On Saturday they were celebrating in style, with dinner and a stay for one night at the Glasshouse Hotel – formerly Hillside Church – which generously upgraded the couple to the wedding suite. They were joined by their children Brian, 45, and Trisha, 40, plus their four grandchildren, Sam, seven, Ben and Michael, both 11, and Sarah, 14.

Last week they also experienced an extended celebration when the whole family visited Piper Dam, near Angus, for a four-day holiday.

Mrs Kavanagh said she believed the secret to a 50-year marriage is to take the ups and the downs. She said: "You have to take the good with the bad. I think it makes all the difference when you have a family because you have achieved something amazing."

Mr Kavanagh took an apprentice position aged 15 at Bertrams engineering works on Leith Walk. At the age of 21 he worked in a factory in Peebles for six years before joining the army in 1960. After leaving the army in 1970, he worked for Fisons Scientific until his retirement.

Mrs Kavanagh started her working life at Hunter & Foulis Bookbinders, on McDonald Road. She left the position in her early 30s to have children, before returning to work at Scottish Gas for 20 years.