Diamond couple

The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on March 24.

It was on Tuesday, March 24, 1953, that the then Miss Kathleen McClay made the journey to Waterside Presbyterian Church to marry her beau, Robert in a service conducted by the Minister, Rev Fredrick Bell.

Her bridesmaids were Margaret Taylor and her sister Valierie McClay and despite the austere post war times it was a traditional wedding, with Kathleen wearing a white gown, veil and tiara.

It was very much a ‘local’ wedding, as Kathleen’s home was at Chapel Road, while Robert’s family at the time was Epworth Street in Rosemount.

The couple set up home at the Glen at Glenbank Road, before moving to Lincoln Courts in 1972 where they lived until almost two years ago, when they moved to Irish Street.

Having thought they might get away with a low-key celebration, instead on Sunday the couple were greeted by family at Irish Street Community Centre, where they had a party, complete with a large anniversary cake with a black and white picture transposed on the icing of the couple, arm-in-arm and smiling for the camera after the wedding ceremony.

Kathleen and Robert went on to have six children: Bertie, Adrian, Ellen, Yvonne, Dorothy and Valerie, and on Sunday their children were there to help they celebrate with their spouses (Wendy, Sally, Dan, Paul, Mark and Brian) and their children. Many of the couple’s 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren were also on hand to brighten Kathleen and Robert’s day.

One of the highlights of the day was the fact that daughter Yvonne travelled home from Beijing to take part in the frivolities, while Dorothy had made the journey from England.

“Mum and dad knew nothing about the party and were overcome when they saw Yvonne because they had not seen her for a while. After the party they went home and spent time with Yvonne and Dorothy, who came over from England,” said Valerie.