When Gladys Lamb’s mum first met her daughter’s now husband, Alex Lamb, she was told to “take a good look” and not to expect to see him again.
Nearly 61 years on from that day, the happy couple are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.
The couple, Gladys, 82, and Alex Lamb, 87, first “bumped into each other” at a marquee dance in Fyvie.
Starting as friends, their relationship changed the day after Mrs Lamb’s 21st birthday.
Mrs Lamb said it was not really love at first sight.
“I invited Alec to my 21st birthday party,” she said. “I can remember my mother saying ‘Is this him coming up the stairs?’
“My answer was ‘you better take a good look because you might not see him again.’ Then the next day I’d changed my mind.
“We got on well so that was it.”
Early life spent in Turriff
Getting engaged in 1962, they started their married life in Forglen House in Turriff after Sir George and Lady Abercrombie heard about their engagement in the local papers.
Mrs Lamb had spent a spell during the holidays working in the kitchen at the house when she was at college in Aberdeen studying various courses in cookery.
The couple were offered a big bedroom in the house after Mrs Lamb was asked to take on a role as cook and housekeeper.
Mrs Lamb said: “It was a great opportunity because it gave us a chance to save.
“It wasn’t a chance to miss because we had no overheads, no rent, no electric, nothing. What we were earning was ours. We were able to save to get our house.”
Married two days after Mrs Lamb’s 22nd birthday on April 20, 1963, they spent four years living in the house before building their own home.
Mr Lamb who had worked at Hutcheon’s in Turriff since he was offered a job when he had just turned 15-years-old, continued to work as a commercial traveller.
They had two daughters, Fiona and Carol at their home in Turriff before moving to Dyce.
Mr Lamb was offered a job with GNP Merchants who had a depot in Tullos where he became a head buyer.
The secret to a long marriage
Mrs Lamb also took on a new career, “changing tack totally and completely”.
She entered into a brand new world of audience research with the BBC before becoming an area manager.
Both partners enjoyed years of success in their fields of work before retiring.
Now grandparents to five grandchildren and one great-grandchild, Mrs Lamb said their long-lived relationship had not been argument free but had been a good one.
She said: “I’ll not say we’ve never had an argument. That would be a lie but we never ever, ever would have bought anything big or do anything without discussing it.
“Really if it’s somebody that you’re living with that you love you argue but it doesn’t come to serious stuff.
Mr Lamb hinted at another reason for the happy marriage by crediting his wife.
He added: “I have a good wife who is well organised and keeps me in my place and is a good cook. We get on fine and we’re very, very lucky with the family and kids.”
Keeping busy since retiring, Mrs Lamb volunteers with Abernecessities while Mr Lamb is founding member of Dyce Rotary Club and Newmachar Golf Club.
They celebrated their 60th anniversary at the weekend with friends and family and came home to a “fine card” from King Charles and Camilla.
Mrs Lamb added: “We were laughing because we were saying he was up at Ballater and Balmoral. He could have dropped it in past and could have saved them the stamp.”
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