A Donside couple are celebrating the rare feat of 70 years married.
Today marks the platinum wedding anniversary of Joe and Isobel Bruce, who are one of the few of the 358,490 couples married in 1950 to reach the magnificent milestone.
The pair met in the 1940s when Mr Bruce, 92, was working on a farm at Kildrummy Inn, while Mrs Bruce, 87, worked at the hotel as a waitress.
They have fond memories of the hotel and the years they shared there together, with Mr Bruce lending his hand as everything from chauffeur to barman and Mrs Bruce taking the lead at many a wedding breakfast banquet.
However, the couple did not get married there themselves – as it was already booked for their chosen date of October 28, 1950.
Instead they wed at the Huntly Arms Hotel in Huntly, and went on to have six sons and a daughter. They now have 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren to keep them busy.
After decades farming around the Alford area and service in the Home Guard at Lumsden during the Second World War, Mr Bruce joined his wife in retirement, gardening and spending time with their family.
A decade ago, for their diamond anniversary celebrations, the family enjoyed a celebratory meal at the hotel which brought the couple together all of those years ago.
There’ll be no such return this year, sadly, due to coronavirus.
Mrs Bruce said: “This virus has stopped everything just now so we can’t see as much of the family, but they still come and see us with their masks when allowed.
“We won’t get to celebrate this time so it’s just another day.”
But sharing the secret to a long and happy marriage, Mrs Bruce said: “Don’t think everything has run smoothly because we have had our ups and downs… but give and take is the main thing, I can tell you that.”
