Billy & Lily Semple: Port couple celebrate 70 years married

Billy and Lily Semple married in 1954 and recently marked their platinum wedding anniversary with a big family party. 

The cute couple have known each other since they were five years old and are still going strong seven decades after they tied the knot. 

Lily, 94, says the secret to staying together for such a long time is simple. 

She added: "We just love each other very much. 

"We're a good partnership."

Billy and Lily grew up living round the corner from each other on Glasgow Road in Port Glasgow. 

They started off in the same class at Clune Park School, and were at Port High School together. 

Billy and Lily both left at 14 to find jobs. 

Lily worked in the Royal Bank of Scotland on Princes Street, and Billy on a farm between Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir. 

When Billy's sister and Lily's sister became good friends, the pair started to see more of each other.

They got together when they were in their twenties and married at St Mary's Church at the old Blackstone corner on February 18 in 1954. 

The couple went on to have four children, John, Lilian, Janice, and Sandra, and now have five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. 

Billy, 95, says he and Lily are so proud of their family. 

He said: "The whole family have all done very well. 

"We all help each other out and we have good values."

Billy did his National Service in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) from 1947 to 1949 and was stationed in Bovington in Dorset. 

He was a tradesman and worked in various roles including plater, blacksmith, electric welder, and gas welder. 

After his time in the army, he worked for Lithgow's for more than 35 years, and was a welder in Ferguson's before he retired. 

Lily went back to work in the mid-1970s after she had her children and took on roles in credit control at Playtex and Sangamo. 

She was very involved in the church when she was younger and spent years as a Sunday school teacher and a Guide leader. 

When Billy and Lily were younger they liked going to the Lorne restaurant on a Saturday night, and could also be found dancing at the Gourock's Cragburn and at Lithgow's dance hall.

They loved caravanning and would travel all over the country, and were keen cyclists. 

The couple also had a house in Calahonda, near to Marbella in Spain, for 22 years.

Billy said: "We loved our family holidays.

"We were all over the place in the caravan and loved going out on our bikes."

Billy and Lily celebrated their 70 years of marriage with a big party at Ingliston Country Club in February, and were very proud to show off their card from King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

The great grandparents both feel like seven decades have flown past. 

Their son John said the family are all very proud of Billy and Lily for being such good role models for the family. 

He added: "They're doing really well, we all still go to them for advice. 

"They're always together. 

"It's always Billy and Lily."