A pair of local diamonds are preparing to celebrate after reaching 60 years of marriage.
Jim and Margaret Anderson will mark the special occasion on February 6 and are well-kent faces around the area, having lived in the city since their nuptials in 1965.
Jim, 81, worked as a painter and decorator for many years and also worked for Stirling Council – before taking up a role as the dedicated lollipop man for Allan’s Primary in the city.
Away from his work, Jim is a committed Bino, following his beloved Stirling Albion up and down the country, going to all of the team’s home games and many of their away matches.
Meanwhile, Margaret, 80, stayed at home to look after the couple’s two children – Lynne and James – before moving into some part-time work as she got older.
When beloved grandchildren Claire and Kayleigh came along, Margaret once again looked after them while Lynne worked.
The family have since added great-granddaughters Skyla and Amirah and great-grandson Brodie.
Stirling boy Jim met Margaret in the former Plaza Ballroom in the city and spotted his future wife as she was out on the town with friends from her job at Woolworths in Falkirk.
The pair danced and arranged to meet in Falkirk a week later but due to illness, Margaret wasn’t able to make it along.
But undeterred, Jim had other ideas and made his way into the Woolworths store to track her down and ask why she had stood him up!
The romance blossomed from that point and they became inseparable, finally getting married on February 6, 1965 – with Bonnybridge girl Margaret then moving to Stirling where she has remained ever since.
The family-oriented couple spend almost all of their time together and also have members of the family popping in regularly to sample Margaret’s famous homemade soup or just for a cup of tea and a blether.
Celebrations will begin with a family meal at the Birds and Bees in Stirling, before the couple head off for a Caribbean cruise to mark the anniversary.