A SHINING example of a couple who were teenage sweethearts have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. 

Jack and Ellen Johnston, both 83, met when they were only 16 and 60 years on they are still devoted to one other.

The Greenock couple marked their milestone with a family gathering at Belleaire House nursing home.

Eldest son Jack said: “They’ve loved one another all their lives. It amazes me — I just don’t know how they did it, when you think how hard it was years ago.

“I’ve never heard them arguing and they always did everything together.”

The pair first met when Ellen came out of her house in Auchmead Road and was talking to a group of kids.
She spotted Jack and asked him his name.

They later met up at the dancing at the Co-operative Hall in Roxburgh Street on a Saturday night and were smitten.

A period of national service separated the lovebirds but their feelings for each other remained strong.

Romantic Jack bought a gift for Ellen during a visit back on leave — the record ‘I’ll Be Home’ by crooner Pat Boone.

Jack said: “When I was in the army for two years she went up to my mother’s house every Saturday night.

“I said to her you can still go out to the dancing if you like but she didn’t want to go out without me.”

They tied the knot at St Margaret’s Church in Finch Road on August 16 1957 and held their reception at the Co-operative Hall.

After they married they lived in Newark Street, McDougall Street and Regent Street then moved to Overton, Ann Street, then finally Regent Court.

They were blessed with three sons Jack, 59, Jim, 57, and Graham, 55, and went on to have five grandsons — Derrick, John, James, Ross and Craig.

The Johnston clan has now expanded to include six cherished great-grandchildren aged from 10 months to 14 years old   — Danae, Ollie, Olivia-Mae, Orla, Jessica and Jack.

Jack was a promising juvenile footballer in his day and played for Gourock Rovers.

He was a plumber by trade, then worked as an ambulance driver and latterly in telecommunications for the post office.
Ellen, who is now sadly not in good health, worked in Westburn Sugar House when she left school but gave up work to bring up the boys.

When they were older she returned to work at Rankin Hospital and Hillend House.

Jack said: “She is a wonderful wife and mother. We always did everything together, enjoyed holidays and socialising.

“We just got on well.”

Provost Martin Brennan delivered gifts and his personal best wishes to the couple while Reverend Alan Sorensen, deputy lord lieutenant, brought special congratulations from HRH The Queen.

Mr Sorensen said: “Jack and Ellen have been married for 21, 916 days and that is an achievement well worth celebrating.”