AT LEAST a dozen couples across Tayside were celebrating 50 golden years together yesterday.

The public notices section of The Courier had far more announcements of golden wedding celebrations than usual, but why so?

Those of a romantic disposition should now prepare themselves for disappointment. While doubtless Cupid played his part, and the unions have demonstrably stood the test of time, there was a practical reason for the rush to the altar at the end of March 1956.

Getting married at the end of the financial year allowed the man doing the marrying to claim a substantial tax rebate.

In 1956 Gordon Brown was still in short trousers but the red box ruled as much as it does today. The so-called Chelsea tractor hadn’t been invented and 4 x 4 was part of a multiplication table.

They knew how to do their sums in the days when mental arithmetic was a common skill and they knew the value of their pounds, shillings and pence. They were as ready to deny the Chancellor their hard earned cash as any creative accountant living today.

Amidst all the congratulations, cards and flowers that surround the milestone of 50 years of marriage, a Perth couple yesterday confirmed the popularity of March weddings half a century ago was the tax incentive.

“That is quite right,” said Jean Moffat. “There was a big rush in March for us to beat the tax man.

“If you married before April 6, you got a full year’s tax rebate,” said husband David.

The couple have lived in Goshen Terrace, Scone for many years. Originally from Ferryden near Montrose David married Jean Watson, who lived in the town, at St George’s Church where they were members of “the YPA”, a young people’s social group that hatched other matches that have stood the test of time.

David could no longer recall yesterday how much cash he reclaimed from the Government in his married man’s tax allowance rebate but he says it was, by the standards of the time, a substantial amount.

While the days of spending several thousand pounds on a wedding dress and splashing out on caseloads of vintage champagne were still far in the future when David and Jean tied the knot, the retired railway worker admitted that it cost a bit to get married 50 years ago.

“Of course it did, and I’m still paying for it,” he joked.