Golden wedding for Denny couple who had first date at Odeon Cinema in Falkirk

Allan and Mary Liddell, née Cruse, are today (Saturday) celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary, a day on which they’d planned to host a party for 150 guests at the Castlecary Hotel.

With coronavirus forcing the couple to re-book the bash for May, Allan (72) and Mary (71) instead marked the occasion by having lunch at Callendar House in Falkirk.

The pair first met in a Bonnybridge cafe when Mary, who has asthma, stopped by for a drink.

Recalling the story, she said: “I’d come down from High Bonnybridge from visiting my aunt.

“I called into the cafe to get a cold juice and he was sitting with a friend.

“He came up and asked, ‘Are you okay, Miss?’ I said I was and he thought he would have another try.”

Allan and Mary had their first date at the old Odeon cinema in Falkirk and married at St Alexander’s Church in Denny.

The ceremony had to be delayed until Allan, who served in the armed forces, returned from the Persian Gulf.

Falkirk district roadworks: Bo'ness, Larbert and Torwood among areas affected

Originally from Bonnybridge, he attended Bonnybridge Primary School and then Denny High School before enrolling with the army.

Mary, who hails from Denny, went to St Patrick’s Primary in the town, followed by St Mungo’s High School in Falkirk.

After marrying, the Liddells moved to Germany when Allan was relocated with the army.

Tidworth in Wiltshire and Leconfield, Yorkshire were their next destinations before the couple returned to Scotland and found a home in Dunfermline in 1983.

Two years later, they moved back to Denny and have remained there ever since.

Allan and Mary have one daughter, Kirstin, who is married to Robert Mackie.

The golden pair have also been blessed with a granddaughter, Kyra (13).

The former, who was based in Northern Ireland and Cyprus among other countries, ended his time in the army in 1988 and joined the Army Cadet Force.

Mary landed her first job in a clothing store in Stirling before gaining employment in John Collier’s in Denny where she made gent’s clothing as a cutter.

While in Germany, she worked in a school as a teacher’s helper and then did accounts in an office in Bielefield.

Mary also took up a voluntary position with the army while in England looking after wives and children.

Upon returning to Scotland, Mary worked for Stirling Council and then Clydesdale Bank as a cleaner, prior to retiring.

Away from their work, the Liddells enjoyed visiting historic places and walking.

Mary is a keen card-maker and knitter, while her husband has tried his hand at a raft of hobbies over the years, including woodwork, shooting, archery, rugby, football, hockey and cross country running.

The duo also enjoyed holidaying abroad and count Cyprus and Egypt among their favourite places.

Offering his take on the secret to a happy marriage, Allan said: “Socialising, communicating and being fair.

“We speak a lot and do a lot together.”

Mary added: “We’ve had a difficult past few years with illness.

“We've got really good family and friends. I’d like to thank them for their support.”

Daughter Kirstin said: “I’d like to thank them for being wonderful parents.”

Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.

https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/nord/dm/FKH/V