Celebrating golden years
Sarah Jane McDonald Love is in the air for this couple who recently celebrated 50 years of happy marriage after tying to knot on Valentine’s Day.
Sandy and Anne Murphy, both 71, of Hayhill in Ayr, met when they were just 16- years- old through friends, and have been head over heels for each other ever since.
The pair married at Ayr United Free Church of Scotland at the tender age of 21, before settling in Ayr to build a home.
Anne, from Ayr worked as a home help for South Ayrshire Council, whilst Sandy, from Dalmellington, worked as a butcher in the town, then going on to become a bus driver.
On the secret to a happy marriage, Anne said: “It’s quite simple really - we’ve always been in love, the most important thing for us was to remember that we were in this together from day one, and here we are!
“I am still trying to get my head around the fact that it’s been 50 years already.
“Time has flown by and it feels like yesterday we first met.
“Like anyone, we’ve had our challenges but my advice would be pick your battles - he’s my number one and I’m his.
“The most important thing about being in a happy marriage is to remember family is number one- that, and making time to go out on dates. We still enjoy going out for meals together and it keeps us feeling the same as we did all those years ago.”
On their special day, the couple enjoyed a meal together at the Kylestrome Bar & Grill, then marking the occasion at the Hawkhill Bowling Club surrounded by their friends- a place where they spent many years bowling together.
Now both retired, Sandy and Anne love nothing more than to travel, adventuring in caravans across the country and now, jetting off to Benidorm for regular trips in the sun.
They have one daughter, Wendy and two grandchildren, Christopher, 24 and Rachael, 11.