George Greenhill knew it was love at first sight when he saw young millworker Mabel Watt on Arbroath’s Guthrie Port.
Back in September the sweethearts celebrated their diamond wedding day.
But the well-known couple have had to wait just a little to make their own little piece of Angus history.
Their card from the monarch is the county’s first 60th anniversary congratulatory message to be signed by King Charles III.
George and Mabel say that despite the wait they are “chuffed” to have that honour.
“We never thought about that but we’re quite honoured by that,” said George.
“We’ve never met Charles, but we saw the Queen and Prince Philip when they were in Dundee once.
“We didn’t get to speak to them but they walked right past when we were at the railings.”
Teenage romance
Both are born and bred Red Lichties.
Their paths even crossed back in primary school days at Inverbrothock, and they also both attended Arbroath’s old High School.
But it was when Mabel was a young mill worker that 18-year-old George first clapped eyes on the girl he knew he wanted to be his wife.
“I was 15 ½ and working in Corsar’s Mill,” said Mabel.
After work one evening, Mabel and a friend arranged to meet up with George and his pal.
Young bricklayer George was instantly smitten.
He got a message to the mill the next day asking Mabel if she would like to go out, and romance blossomed.
“It was definitely love at first sight,” said George, now 82.
“We went together for a wee while, split up for a couple of months then got back together and that’s been it ever since,” he added.
They were married in Arbroath’s Ladyloan Church and went on to have five children – Pauline, Caroline, Simon, Michael and Robin.
The couple’s seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren will join in an anniversary celebration this weekend.
Busy lives
George worked with a number of building firms throughout his bricklaying career, the last 15 or so with Andrew Shepherd of Forfar until his retiral in 2005.
And Mabel, now 79, enjoyed casual work on local farms around Arbroath.
“We didn’t have many hobbies – with five children we didn’t have the time!” said George.
“We’ve not been perfect, but to make it to 60 years of marriage you just have to muck in together.
“You solve your problems and get on with it.
“There are too many folk today that if they have any problems they just say ‘that’s it’ and give up.”
Last Queen’s card
Local diamond wedding couples have bookmarked the historic change of monarch.
Forfar couple Les and Mary Craib were probably the last in Angus to receive a card of congratulations from the Queen.
They celebrated their 60th anniversary on September 8, the day Her Majesty died at Balmoral.
And the couple recalled a meeting with the Queen in which she shared her love for Angus after spending time at Glamis Castle as a young princess.
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