Happy Diamond couple’s love light still shines as bright as ever
Janie and Jack are back in the paper
When Janie McQuiston’s grandmother had to move from a top flat to a bottom one because of mobility issues, little did she know then that this move would change her life forever.
The neighbour upstairs from her grandmother had two nephews staying with her and when she met Jack Cooper they fell for each other.
And their first date was at the newly-opened Olympia bowling alley in East Kilbride.
They were married on March 30, 1963, and, 60 years later with two children and five grandchildren, they are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.
It was a double wedding reception for the Coopers, as Janie’s sister Helen and her husband Billy were married on the same day.
The big event saw their father walking two daughters down the aisle at different churches.
The double reception was held in the Town Hall, which is now the Village Theatre and the East Kilbride News covered the story, publishing a detailed report on April 14, 1963.
The sisters were singers with Jack Anderson’s Band and played in the Flamingo Ballroom in Glasgow.
Helen’s husband Billy was the drummer with Alex Harvey’s big soul band and they played at the reception.
Helen and Billy emigrated to Canada in 1964.
Jack was a long distance lorry driver with Bowater Scott and later became depot manager in East Kilbride where they lived.
He was promoted to a bigger depot and they moved to County Durham, living in the north east of England for seven years before returning to East Kilbride.
When they were first married, Janie worked in Holyrood Knitwear and when it closed she went into electronics and later became training manager for HP Computers. They both love to sing and still enjoy a Saturday afternoon out at their favourite pub in Glasgow, The Old Shipbank.
The celebrations for their anniversary were all planned and the family were looking forward to a great night in the Bonnie Prince Charlie on March 31.
Unfortunately Jack had a bad fall and broke his hip so the celebrations had to be cancelled.
What they didn’t know was that Janie’s sister Susan, who was her bridesmaid, had come all the way from Canada to surprise them.
Janie said: “After a successful operation, Jack is now home and getting back on his feet.
“The celebration party is being organised for a few weeks’ time and we are keeping our fingers crossed there are no more accidents.”
Revealing their secret for a long and happy marriage, Janie added: “We’ve always loved and respected each other and never felt anger or frustration with each other at any time throughout our long marriage.”
We’ve always loved and respected each other and never felt anger or frustration