A PRESTONPANS couple have celebrated 50 years of happy marriage.

Norman and Sophia Taylor enjoyed a socially distanced golden wedding anniversary, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, at their home on North Grange Avenue on July 18 with their three children.

Northumbrian-born Norman, who turned 80 on June 3, met Sophia, 86, in Prestonpans Royal British Legion in 1970, saying it was “love at first sight” and “eyes over a dance floor”.

The pair married shortly afterwards at Prestonpans Register Office and then went on to travel the world due to Norman’s job as a fitter and turner, a trade he learned in the Merchant Navy.

The family travelled across Britain between 1970 and 1974. They then stayed in Africa between 1974 and 1978, including Zambia, with the children attending public school in South Africa.

However, Sophia started to feel homesick so moved back to Prestonpans in 1978.

Norman then got a job in Libya, working four weeks away and then being back at home for four weeks. He worked in this job for the rest of his career, retiring 10 years ago.

During his working life, Norman was also a delivery driver.

However, after his retirement he took on the role as a golf caddy at Muirfield, near Gullane.

Prestonpans-born Sophia, as Cissie to her friends, worked as a barmaid, including at the former Lady Susan pub in Prestonpans.

When Norman married Sophia, she had three children from a previous marriage: Richard, now aged 59, Charles, 55, and Eileen, 52.

Their grandson Kal, described as the “apple of their eye”, was born in 1988 and was “spoiled rotten” according to Sophia.

Norman and Sophia have sadly been in poor health recently, with Norman suffering a heart attack this year.

However, he still makes an effort to visit the Legion in Prestonpans twice a week, every Monday and Friday.

When the Legion’s beer garden re-opened and Norman was able to go back to his favourite bar, Richard said it was “the first time I have seen a smile on his face for months”.

Norman says the secret to a long marriage is “the wife is always right”.

Richard added: “They are totally in love. I’ve never seen my mum and dad fight and my dad has never risen his voice once. My dad is an absolute gentleman and they absolutely dote on each other.”