Brora couple celebrate diamond wedding anniversary
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A BRORA couple have recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.
Ian (82) and Isobel Christie (78) met, got married and had their only child Kelvin, now 59, in the village back in 1960.
Since the wedding, on March 18, 1960, the couple have travelled the world together, with Ian working in the RAF and the Foreign Office. They are now happily settled in Forres, and have three grandchildren – Jack, Mark and Leanne – and three great-grandchildren.
Isobel said the key to sustaining a happy marriage was “working hard”. She added: “I have worked hard all my life. We have had our ups and downs like everybody else but we have had happy times.
“We have travelled and I was very lucky to do everything we did. If I didn’t meet Ian, I wouldn’t have had the chance to do all the things I did.
“But when you are away all that time, it is lovely to come home.”
Ian said “sharing” was his secret, and the couple have shared many once-in-a-lifetime experiences throughout their 60 years together.
In Warsaw, they lived beside Polish leader Wojciech Jaruzelski, while, in Bonn, the couple entertained the Rangers football team on an away day in the region. However, Ian said, the biggest claim to fame of all is taking a dip in Frank Sinatra’s swimming pool while in Havana.
The travels all began in 1961, when Ian was drafted into the RAF. He said: “I was the last of the conscription in 1961, so I joined the Air Force and served for 25 years in Germany, Singapore, Cyprus, Holland, and my last post was in Kinloss.
“Then I went into the Foreign Office for 15 years. I worked in the embassies in Warsaw, Havana, Athens, Bonn, Berlin, Dublin and Moscow.”
While travelling, the family have retained a passionate love for sport. Ian to this day travels home and away to watch Brora Rangers.
They were visited in their home by Moray’s Depute Lord Lieutenant George Macintyre and local councillor Lorna Creswell.
