Carron couple celebrate Diamond Wedding anniversary

A Carron couple say communication has been the key ingredient of their 60-year marriage.
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Michael and Jeanette Horsburgh, née Cunningham, were treated to afternoon tea by their family on Saturday to celebrate their Diamond Wedding anniversary.

The duo, aged 85 and 80 respectively, first met at Garngad Church in Glasgow where choir member Jeanette’s singing caught the attention of her future husband.

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Their daughter, Wendy Kitson, said: “My dad saw her and he will tell everybody he thought she had the voice of an angel.”

Carron residents Michael and Jeanette Horsburgh celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary on Saturday, August 15. Picture: Michael Gillen.Carron residents Michael and Jeanette Horsburgh celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary on Saturday, August 15. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Carron residents Michael and Jeanette Horsburgh celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary on Saturday, August 15. Picture: Michael Gillen.

The Horsburghs would also marry in Glasgow, where Jeanette is from, and find their first home there before switching coast and moving to Michael’s home village of Pittenweem in Fife in 1968, where he ran a shop at the harbour.

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Five years later, the pair returned to Glasgow and settled down in Baillieston – Michael also had a store there – while Jeanette worked as a nurse, having trained at The New Victoria Hospital.

A change of location was afoot again in 1980 when the Horsburghs headed to London to work with the London City Mission.

Michael and Jeanette Horsburgh on their wedding day in 1960. Contributed.Michael and Jeanette Horsburgh on their wedding day in 1960. Contributed.
Michael and Jeanette Horsburgh on their wedding day in 1960. Contributed.
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It wasn’t long before the husband and wife were on the move again, this time to Yorkshire where they took up an offer to run a holiday home with Christian Endeavour.

Michael also found work with the Shaftesbury Society and took charge of a hostel for the disabled. His wife was employed as a school nurse during this time.

After leaving the Shaftesbury Society, Michael worked as a collegiate taxi driver and later joined Crossroads, providing respite care and transporting people to and from hospital appointments.

The Horsburgh family had grown in size by that point, with the births of daughters Jeanette and Wendy and son Scott.

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Younger daughter Wendy’s decision to move north of the border prompted her parents to follow suit in 2000, when they relocated to Larbert to enjoy their retirement.

The Horsburghs spent five years there before finding their current home in Carronlea Drive, Carron.

The diamond duo have been blessed throughout the years by the arrivals of grandchildren Bethany, Leah, Ian, Alison and Sara.

When they’re not spending time with their family, Michael and Jeanette enjoy going on holiday and have visited Florida in each of the past 20 years.

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They also like going out for walks and meeting friends for meals.

Wendy added: “Since lockdown, my dad has got very attached to the garage and the garden.

“My mum volunteers every Tuesday at the lunch club at Larbert Baptist Church.

“They say their secret is communicating with each other.

“My mum is very placid and tolerant. My dad would say she hasn’t got a bad word to say about anybody.”

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Giving his take on the secret to a happy marriage, Michael said: “I think you have to share things.

“You have to respect each other and most of all you have to love each other. If you do, you can handle 60 years together and I couldn’t have a better wife.”

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