Bill Mitchell and Jessie Colvin first met at the Hattonrig Hotel in Bellshill and their love of dancing and love for each other did the rest.

They got married on 7 of March 1964 at the Parish Church in Larkhall.

And 60 years on to the day Bill and Jessie celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary with special guests South Lanarkshire Provost Margaret Cooper and Deputy Lieutenant for Lanarkshire Alison Plummer.

Bill and Jessie started married life in Hamilton, firstly in Tuphall Road and later School Street where they stayed for 15 years before moving briefly to Blantyre.

But they decided Hamilton was for them, so they moved back and bought a house in Cyprus Court.

Bill started working at McAdams in Hamilton before moving to British Rail where he worked up the ranks to become a supervisor.

Jessie had been working in an office before they got married but when their family came along she put her work life on hold to be a full-time mother. When she did return to work Jessie had various retail roles with Primark, Thorntons and Clintons where she worked up the ranks to become store manager.

Their first child Billy was born the year after they married with four more children, Julie, Shirley, Angela and Alan completing the family by 1973.

When the children were young, they loved their holidays in the family touring caravan. Their favourite place was Blackpool then Newquay.

The couple now has a static caravan in Girvan that they spend many weekends at during the summer.

Bill and Jessie now have 10 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

They spend any other free time tending to their garden.

If you would like the Provost to attend a Diamond Wedding or 100th birthday please get in touch with the Provost’s Office.