The secret to a happy marriage? Be romantic every day

Tayside man, 96, says key to happy marriage is to be romantic all year round – not just on Valentine’s Day

Sound advice from John Mackay, 96, who saved his wife-to-be Eci from Hitler’s concentration camps. This Valentine’s Day will be their 71st together. Picture: Wullie Marr.

A Dundee man who saved his wife-to-be from Hitler’s concentration camps said the secret to a happy marriage is to be romantic every day – not just on Valentine’s Day.

John Mackay, 96, was a commando during the Second World War whose unit liberated a number of Jewish female prisoners destined for a concentration camp.

After freeing the prisoners the soldiers organised a dance in the local village hall, where John first set eyes on Edith, known as Eci.

Even after John’s heroic exploits in the war, he claims he was too nervous to ask Eci to dance and sent a friend over to ask on his behalf.

Eci, unimpressed, sent the friend back, and insisted John ask her to dance himself.

He did, and his boldness soon led to the couple falling in love.

John and Eci married in Scotland in July 1946 and have been “wholly dedicated” to one another since.

After the war the couple brought Eci’s mother to Scotland from her native Hungary, and had two children – daughter Sharon and son Peter.

This Valentine’s Day will be the couple’s 71st together and they plan on having a “low key” celebration at the Broughty Ferry care home in which they live.

The couple have a few tips on how to keep the spark alive after so many years together and say the trick is to be romantic every day, not just on February 14.

John and Eci, 92, live at the Balcarres home in Broughty Ferry, and John has bought his “sweetheart” several gifts and a card ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Pamela Shaw, activity coordinator at the Bupa care home, said it was lovely to see John and Eci are still completely head over heels.

She said: “John is a true gentleman. He is always checking in to make sure Eci is happy and the pair still refer to each other as ‘sweetheart’ on a daily basis.

“Their devotion to one another is clear to anyone who spends even a short time in their company.

“John came to join us a year after Eci moved in, so it’s wonderful that they are both near one another again.

“Our main aim now is to ensure that they continue to enjoy a happy life together.

“We’re having a little party for all our residents this Valentine’s Day, so it’s lovely to have such a real example of true love with us at the home.” Lasting bond: John and Eci raise a glass ahead of their 71st Valentine’s Day together. The couple, who met during the Second World War, married in 1946 and had two children.

John is a true gentleman. He is always checking in to make sure Eci is happy and the pair still refer to each other as ‘sweetheart’ on a daily basis