MARY and George Cunningham are celebrating 60 years of happy marriage.
The Uphall pair met as teenagers when working at Gerrards, a grocers in Corstorphine, before pursuing a four-year long-distance romance when George, 83, was called up to serve in the Navy.
They have three children, three grandchildren and two gr
eat-grandchildren, all of whom joined them to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary last month at a party at the West Lothian Golf Club.
Mary Cunningham (nee Tyler), 82, was born on March 20, 1926 in Gogar Mains. As one of three siblings, she attended Tynecastle School in Gorgie.
On leaving, she was offered a job in Hillwood Co-op where she worked before taking up employment in Gerrards, a family-run business opposite Corstorphine's Kirk Loan.
It was here she met 18-year-old George Cunningham, born on April 3, 1925 in Currie.
Before working in the shop as an assistant, he attended Broxburn High School in the town where he grew up with his family.
Mary said: "We started working together and got on very well, but then George was called up to join the Navy.
"Before he left he said to me 'Mary, if I write to you will you answer my letter?'
"I said he'd have to wait and see, but I did."
For four years George was posted in Plymouth with operations seeing him sail across the world, including to Malta and Palestine, rising through the ranks to become Chief Petty Officer.
The couple kept in regular contact and rekindled their romance when George returned to Scotland, taking up a job in Massey's, a grocers in Tollcross, before becoming an inspector for the former SMT bus company.
Mary worked in the showroom department of Jenners, a job she held for 17 years.
Their wedding was on August 21, 1948 in Gogar Parish Church, with an evening party – attended by more than 100 people – in the Gogarburn Hospital Reception Hall.
Despite war-time rationing still being in existence, their families made sure the wedding was an event not to be forgotten.
Mary said: "My mum cooked all the food for us and my aunt baked. I think they had to prepare non-stop for days in advance.
"I had a lovely dress, very plain, but lovely. It was a great wedding."
The couple were the last to marry in Gogar Parish Church before the listed building was sold off.
It is now under the ownership of a joinery firm.
They moved in with George's parents, before getting their own home in Broxburn.
They then moved on to Uphall, where they have lived in Loaning Hill Park for 29 years.
They have a daughter, Mary, 58, and twins, George and Anne, 51. They are also proud grandparents to Robert, Graeme and Susan and great-grandparents to James and Jennifer.
Mary said: "I don't think there is really a secret to a happy marriage.
"You just have to be honest with each other and have a strong sense of humour."
The full article contains 515 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
