A COUPLE from Elphinstone who were born just nine days apart are celebrating 60 years of happy marriage.
Peter and Helen Fairgrieve celebrated their diamond anniversary last Thursday.
Peter, who was brought up in the village, was born on May 15, 1939, and went to Elphinstone School.
Helen was born nine days later, on May 24, 1939, growing up in Tranent and becoming a pupil at Tranent Primary School. The pair both attended Tranent Public School.
Helen worked most of her life as a cashier, both for the Co-op and Waring and Gillow furniture shop in Edinburgh.
Peter was a miner from the age of 15, working up to the role of pit depute until the pits at Monktonhall closed down in the late 1980s. He was then a postman in Tranent for 14 years.
The couple met at the dancing in Elphinstone and began courting not long after.
They married on March 18, 1961, at the Wishart St Andrew’s Church on Church Street in Tranent; nine months later, they welcomed their first child, daughter Jacqueline, who joked that she was “a honeymoon baby”.
Three years later, they welcomed their second child, Denise, born in July 1964.
When they married, the couple moved into their house on Main Street in Elphinstone – and have lived there ever since.
Peter and Helen used to love going on holidays together and regularly attend Elphinstone Miners’ Welfare and Social Club – when the club opened in December 1961, the couple couldn’t attend its launch as Helen was in labour with Jacqueline at the time; it is the only club event they have ever missed.
Peter was a keen bowler and is a lifelong Hibernian FC supporter.
Helen, who had a hip replacement last year, now enjoys completing puzzles such as crosswords and word searches.
They are also keen gardeners and are very family-minded people who love spending time with those close to them.
Despite not being able to have a party due to coronavirus regulations, Peter and Helen enjoyed their day, with the card they received from Her Majesty the Queen taking pride of place in their house and the cake Denise ordered for them also going down a treat.
Jacqueline said: “It is such a great achievement. I am glad they were able to have even a wee bit of a celebration.”
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