George and Ishbel still have sparkle in their eyes
Childhood sweethearts celebrate Diamond anniversary
Childhood sweethearts George and Ishbel Glencorse have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.
The pair were married on September 5, 1958, having struck up an instant friendship when they met at school aged just 15.
They quickly became inseparable, and friendship turned to love, leading to their big day 60 years ago when they wed in Flemington Hallside Parish Church in Cambuslang, with a honeymoon on the Isle of Man.
George, who worked as a metallurgist in the labs with British Steel, and Ishbel, who was a florist at Fox’s Flower Shop in Glasgow, went on to have two children – son Ronnie and daughter Thora. After a brief move to Wales where Thora was born, the family relocated to Hamilton, where they have lived in the same family home for more than half a century.
Balancing family life with work, George became a lecturer at Motherwell College, as well as a part-time referee and football coach, while Ishbel was the manager of The Flower Shop in Motherwell, and Captain of the 2nd Hamilton Girls’ Brigade.
Indeed, George was so devoted to family life that when his son Ronnie was studying at Earnock High School, he decided to support him by studying for and sitting the exams himself.
Both were also active members of the Church of Scotland, George an Elder at Hillhouse Parish, and Ishbel a board member at Flemington Hallside, where she arranged the church flowers for more than 50 years. The pair were visited by South Lanarkshire provost Ian Mcallan and Lanarkshire Lord Lieutenant, Lady Susan Haughey, to mark the special anniversary.
Provost Mcallan said: “Ishbel and George are a fantastic couple, with a great zest for life.
“I had a great time chatting to them about their many decades together.
“In fact in discussion with me and the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Haughey, Mrs Glencorse revealed a Royal connection of her own.
“As a skilled florist she was asked to design a bouquet to present to the Queen Mother on a visit to John Brown’s shipyard in Glasgow to launch a ship in 1959.
“Her Royal Highness loved the display so much she used an image of her with it as her Christmas card of that year. What a remarkable memory to share with us all on such a special occasion.”