Sitting in their family home in Aberdeen’s Garthdee district, Francis and Peggy Laird gaze at one another as if they are on a first date.
But among the homely trinkets and pictures of loved ones that decorate their living room lie an abundance of cards penned with good wishes for their diamond wedding anniversary.
This is a couple who have held on to the spark of first love for 60 years.
Their romance dates back to 1953 when Mrs Laird was a carer at Balmedie Eventide Home and her sweetheart worked for Andrew Collie grocers in Aberdeen.
Mr Laird, now 84, admits he didn’t appreciate the significance of their first encounter.
He said: “I remember seeing her standing in the big sitting room of the house but that’s all I really remember.
“We started talking, became good friends and things just developed from there.”
However, something special kept bringing the young man back from his home in Rosemount, Aberdeen, to Balmedie to see Peggy.
“I took my bike out every few days and when we came to know each better I would cycle out for an evening”, the retired grocery store worker added.
When it came to organising their wedding in 1955, they decided to marry where it all began, surrounded by all the friends they had made at Balmedie Eventide Home.
Mr Laird said: “The minister who married us was the minster at my church in Rosemount.
“We had a proper church service and the sitting room was set up with chairs and an aisle for the day.
“We couldn’t take all the residents to the hotel for the meal so we left them food and wine and they had their own little party.”
Now with three children, eight grandchildren and four great children, the family remains close and more than 100 relatives and friends attended a surprise diamond wedding celebration at the couple’s local church in Garthdee.
The event, organised by daughters Norma, 59 and Mary, 57, was a party to remember for the happy couple.
“I’m still in complete shock,” said Mrs Laird, who is now 87.
“We also received a card from the Queen but my favourite card is one from my great children.”
While Mr Laird retired at 65, his wife works just as hard as she did when she was young.
She said: “I left the care home after I got married.
“I still do all my cooking, my washing, I bake every couple of days and I clean the windows if the weather is good.”
So what is the secret to a long and happy marriage?
“L-O-V-E,” replies Mr Laird, as he grasps his wife’s hand and smiles.