DIAMOND couple Agnes and Robert Bryson are still living ‘happy every after’ 60 years after they tied the knot.

The pair, who live in Brisbane Street, met by chance after Robert, 83, had been ‘stood up’ by his then girlfriend.

They discovered they lived in the same street and Robert walked her home. 

Agnes, 81, said: “We just hit it off and we couldn’t see enough of each other.

“Robert’s mother said ‘you may as well pack your case and move in with Agnes’ mother’.” 

Robert added: “I always picked girls for their personality but I ended up with a cracker.”

After a five-year-courtship they married in 1957 at Mount Pleasant Church with a reception afterwards at the Lorne restaurant and function suite. 

They moved in with Agnes’ mother Kate McKenzie in Dempster Street and when they moved to a house in Larkfield she went with them.

They then bought a house in Robertson Street before moving to their flat in nearby Brisbane Street.

Robert said: “I lived 24 years with my own mother and 37 years with my mother-in-law.”

Robert was a painter and decorator to trade who  worked in IBM for 30 years as a spray painter, parts analyst and team leader in the stores department.

Agnes was a telephonist in Westburn Sugar Warehouse and Robert’s dad worked alongside her father.

Mr & Mrs Bryson went on to have three children, Norman, 58, Alastair, 56, who now lives down south, and Pauline, 52.

They have six grandchildren and four great-grandsons.

The couple enjoy an annual holiday to Blackpool and also go on trips with the IBM retirees group and through the years they’ve been on holidays with the RAF club.

Agnes shared her secret for a long and happy marriage, saying: “Give and take.”

Robert added: “You have your ups and downs but you remember the good times, not the bad times.”

Agnes says they never thought they would reach their 60th anniversary.

She said: “My dad died when he was 51 and Robert’s at 65, we never ever thought we’d be married all these years.”

The pair marked their special day with a party in Grosvenor Bowling Club and in lieu of gifts they asked for donations to a charity close to their hearts.

They raised £510 for a dementia charity after losing Robert’s brother Jim 12 years ago, friend Elspeth Isaacs three years ago and their bridesmaid Alison Campbell in April.