Husband and wife who met at Stenhousemuir Health Centre retiring on same day

Peter and Isobel Hawthorn have chosen to bring an end to their careers with the NHS so they can spend more time with one another.

Before dating and getting married, the couple, who are 70 and 67 respectively, were initially colleagues at Stenhousemuir’s medical clinic in the early 1970s.

Glasgow-born Mr Hawthorn was employed as a podiatrist, while Stenhousemuir woman Mrs Hawthorn worked as a receptionist – a role she’s held for 49 years.

Having spent six years plucking up the courage, Mr Hawthorn eventually asked his future wife out following some encouragement from fellow staff.

The Hawthorns married at Larbert East Church in 1983 and were waved off on honeymoon by thrilled colleagues.

Fittingly, the pair were presented with two bricks to commemorate where they met when the old Stenhousemuir Health Centre was demolished.

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While Mrs Hawthorn continued working at the newly built premises, her husband took up a job at Woodlea Hospital in East Dunbartonshire before moving to the mental health unit in Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow, where he will finish up.

The couple initially stayed in Carron after marrying but moved to Stenhousemuir when daughter Gemma was still a baby and have remained there ever since.

Discussing their retirement plans, Mrs Hawthorn said: “We absolutely are looking forward to it.

“When we were on holiday for two weeks last August, at that point you could go out a wee run and we went to Seahouses in England.

“We were walking along the side of the water and thought, ‘We could do this often, it’s time to call it a day’.

“I’ve been in the same job for 49 years and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

“We enjoy each other’s company. We don’t usually go on holidays but we like our day trips on the train to Newcastle and York.

“We’re hoping to do something like that when restrictions ease and do up the garden.

“We like to go on walks and there’ll be plenty of painting. I’ve made a list for Peter!

“Thanks to all our friends and family for all our gifts.”

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