A DEVOTED couple are set to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary after 60 happy years together.

Christine and William Airth met at Cragburn Pavilion in Gourock, little knowing then that they would spend the rest of their lives together.

William was in the RAF at the time so they only saw each other when he came home on leave.

But love soon blossomed and they married at St Ninian's Church in Larkfield on March 3 in 1961.

Christine, 80, said: "It doesn't feel like 60 years - it's passed very quickly.

"This anniversary has just come upon us before I realised it.

"I remember it was a beautiful, fresh day when we got married.

"My twin sisters Margaret and Sadie were my bridesmaids, they were older than me, and the minister was Reverend Fergus McPherson."

Christine, from Greenock, and William, from Port Glasgow, clicked right away on the dancefloor.

Christine said: "Bill was a good dancer and he was so handsome in his RAF uniform."

The newlyweds settled in Belhaven Street before moving to their forever family home in Mull Avenue, where they have stayed for the last 56 years.

William trained as an accountant with John Gray in Port Glasgow before he joined the forces.

He was then an auditor at India Tyres in Inchinnan and later became an internal auditor with CalMac in Gourock.

Christine, who was a seamstress with a firm in Greenock, said: "He used to get to visit all the islands in his job with CalMac, it was very interesting."

The couple have a son, David, who is 57.

Christine said: "He is our pride and joy.

"He is very thoughtful and attentive and we get on really well with our daughter-in-law Angela.

"When it was our golden wedding anniversary we went on a cruise with them."

Mr & Mrs Airth have a close-knit family which includes granddaughters Lynsey, 35, and Natalie, 31, great-granddaughter Sophie, 13, and great-grandson Aarran (correct), nine.

The family all live within half a mile of each other.

Christine said: "Our family is everything.

"They are all very caring and if I want anything, they are there in a minute."

Mrs Airth shared her secret for a long and happy marriage, saying: "I would say to people to stick at it - if you have an argument, don't go to sleep without making it up.

"We've had our ups and downs but we have always come out of it happy."

The pair were members of Port Glasgow Bowling Club and William was a keen golfer at Port Golf Club and a talented table tennis player.

They were hoping to mark their happy milestone with a family get-together at Coast restaurant in Langbank but the celebrations have been put on hold for now due to government public health restrictions caused by the pandemic.

Christine said: "We are hoping to have a nice celebration in the spring when we can all gather in the one place."