Published: Thursday, 11th March, 2010 6:00am

Golden couple's delight

by Bryan Copland

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A GOLDEN couple who met while dancing at North Berwick's old pavilion celebrated 50 years of marriage with a gathering of family and friends on Sunday.

Margaret and Len Patey, of Dundas Avenue, were joined by about 30 people at Archerfield House to raise a glass to their golden wedding anniversary, which was last Friday.

They enjoyed dinner and an overnight stay at the venue, arranged by sons Chris, 49, and Neil, 46. Margaret, 69, didn't reveal the secret to a long marriage, but said it felt "quite amazing" to have spent 50 years with Len, 72.

She told the Courier: "It was an absolutely wonderful celebration. We were staying at the house overnight and we had the entire house just for us. It's quite a record to reach 50 years, I think, by today's standards."

The couple met while dancing at North Berwick's former pavilion, and married a few years later. They've lived their whole married lives in the town, most of which has been spent at their current home.

Len is the third generation of his family to come from North Berwick, while Margaret formerly lived in Prestonpans and Longniddry.

Len used to spend time away from home when he worked as a master in the merchant navy before becoming a lecturer at Leith's Old Royal Naval College, and Margaret worked in the offices at the former Edinburgh College of Domestic Science.

The couple now spend time looking after their grandchildren, golfing and gardening.

Their son Chris is a golf professional who works for the PGA, while Neil works as an accountant.

Margaret says she enjoys spending time with her "wonderful" grandchildren, but plans to relax following the weekend's events.

"I think we'll just wind down now," she added.