A South Lanarkshire couple reached a milestone wedding anniversary on 23rd March, celebrating 70 years since they walked down the aisle together.
98-year-old Gordon Cowan and his wife 94-year-old Jean tied the knot in 1951 after a two-year courtship following their first meeting at the Dennistoun Palais dance hall in Glasgow. It’s not known what type of stationery the couple used for their wedding invitations, but the 1950s saw the birth of offset printing, following letterpress printing, which had been popular since the 1400s.
Despite marrying in Rutherglen, which was close to their home, and staying relatively local for their honeymoon in Ayr, Ayrshire, the Scottish couple have spent much of their married life together travelling around the world, visiting many European countries – in particular, the Italian lakes – and exploring the numerous states of North America by means of public transport.
Gordon and Jean have never had children, with Gordon, a former glassmaker, describing his wife as the love of his life. The couple currently reside together at the David Walker Gardens residential care home. Their travel-themed anniversary afternoon tea was shared with the staff and fellow residents, with every table named after one of the locations that Gordon and Jean have visited.
Speaking to the Glasgow Times, Megan Watt, a senior care worker at the home, stated how privileged she felt to be part of the couple’s celebration of their life and partnership. Manager Debra Allison echoed the sentiments, adding that love endures despite the challenges of COVID, reinforcing the message of companionship and togetherness.