Jack and Sheila Black celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary with close family and friends at the Avonbridge Hotel, in their adopted home town of Hamilton.

They were also congratulated by South Lanarkshire Provost Margaret Cooper, who presented the couple with flowers, a special bottle of whisky and a certificate on behalf of the council, as well as adding her own personal best wishes.

Jack was originally from Aberdeen and Sheila from Edinburgh, but the pair have spent the last 50 years in the same house in Hamilton after moving there after work brought them to this part of the country.

The couple were engaged in 1961 and married, after Jack had originally moved to Edinburgh in 1958, with the couple working together at HMRC’s tax office in the city. Work took Sheila to London and the Southeast for spells, but the biggest obstacle to their wedding came about just six weeks before the big day in 1962 when the venue informed them that they were double-booked.

However, all ended well when the Csardar, in East Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, hosted a great party following the wedding at Greenside Parish Church, which has been the venue for many of the family’s notable events, including weddings and christenings.

Three children followed – Andrea in 1965, Findlay in 1968 and Lesley in 1971 – and, in 1972, following promotion and a job move to Glasgow, they bought their house in Hamilton and have been there ever since.

Hamilton Bowling club has been a constant part of life for the couple since moving to Hamilton. Both have been president and Jack took on Treasurer duties there. His skills with finance duties didn’t go unnoticed and he was asked to be Treasurer for World Bowls, serving in that capacity for seven years, after which he was asked to undertake the same duties for their church.

The social aspect of bowls has always been important to them and they remain part-time members, with many of their closest friendships having been developed there and continuing to this day.

Another love for Sheila and Jack has always been their holidays, with UK destinations such as Silloth, Morecambe, Torquay, and Lossiemouth providing many great memories for the children as they grew up and, as time went by, more adventurous foreign trips were enjoyed to the US, Canada, South Africa and China.

The couple always enjoyed Tenerife and have amassed more than 20 visits there, with Jack to be found in the sun and Sheila in the shade, but they have now come full circle and recent trips to Scottish islands, Skye and Harris in particular, and the East Neuk of Fife have been enjoyed with the wider family.

As grandparents, they are extremely proud of their grandchildren: Andrea and her husband Ian’s children, Eilidh and Ewan, and Isla and Maisie, the children of parents Findlay and his wife, Karen.

Provost Cooper said: “I had a wonderful time meeting Jack and Sheila. As a fellow bowler, it was great to hear about their love of the sport, but they also had so many other great stories from their fascinating life – we had a lovely chat.

“I wish them many congratulations on their Diamond Anniversary and every happiness for the future!”