A pair of loved-up 91-year-olds are celebrating seven decades of marital bliss this week.
Jimmy and Betty Murphy, from Prestwick, in Ayrshire, mark their platinum anniversary on April 6, making them among the few couples in the world to reach the rare milestone.
The great-grandparents say the secret to a long and happy marriage is to "never stop loving each other."
Jimmy and Betty first met at a youth club in Prestwick and later married in the town.
Jimmy evacuated to the seaside town aged five from Whiteinch, Glasgow on September 2, 1939 – the day after World War Two was declared – along with his mum, five siblings and pupils from St Paul’s Primary in Whiteinch.
The group all arrived at Prestwick Train Station and walked to St Cuthbert’s Church Hall, now known as Kirkhall Surgery, where the Prestwick community were waiting to take them into their homes.
Jimmy and his family were eventually given a house in Outdale Avenue. Betty was born and bred in Prestwick at what was known as the Miners Rows in Glenburn.
Fast forward some years later, Jimmy and Betty met at St Quivox Youth Club and started courting. They tied the knot on Easter Monday April 6, 1953 and were married by Fr Breen – the first Catholic priest in Prestwick since the reformation.
The reception was held in Carles the bakers, now Viva Garden Chinese on Prestwick’s Main Street. Jimmy worked with Law & Sons Painter and Decorator before becoming self- employed with AMP life insurance. Betty was a window dresser with Woolworths in the early years and then became a full-time housewife.
The couple have five children – four girls and one boy, aged from 69 to 51 years – 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Daughter Maria McGahon said: “Family is everything to them. They said their secret to a long, happy marriage is ‘to never stop loving each other’.”
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