FAMILY and friends gathered in North Berwick to help a couple celebrate an incredible 70 years of marriage.

William and Marjory Doig were joined by their family for their platinum wedding anniversary celebrations on June 10 at Astley House Care Home on the town’s Dirleton Avenue.

The couple, who moved to East Lothian in the 1950s having been married in Fife, received a card of congratulations from the Queen to mark the special occasion.

Daughter Heather explained how they first met.

She told the Courier: “They were at school together.

“The story goes that dad was watching out of the window as mum got off the school bus, and she fell off, and dad said ‘that’s the girl for me!’.”

William, known as Bill, was part of the RAF’s Photographic Reconnaissance Unit and served in Palestine and Egypt, before turning his hand to teaching.

The 95-year-old was headteacher at a number of schools, including several in East Lothian, and was headteacher at Gullane Primary School when he retired.

He was also session clerk at Aberlady Parish Church, while Marjory, 94, was involved with the Red Cross and the women’s branch of the Rotary Club.

She also helped out at Preston Mill, and a former Aberlady care home.

Heather and her sister Cherry said: “Mum used to go along and help out every so often.

“She would help them with craft work – she was older than a lot of the residents then.”

They were “absolutely delighted” to see their parents, both long-term residents at the North Berwick care home, mark their big day.

Heather said: “It’s amazing that they have made it to 70 years married.

“Just the other night they were sitting holding hands together, which was nice.”

Janice Gardner, a senior carer at Astley House, was similarly delighted to see the couple mark seven decades of marriage.

She added: “It is wonderful that they have been so devoted to each other for such a long time.

“Marjory came here to visit Bill a lot before she became a resident and she was always very affectionate.”