Lord-Lieutenant of Midlothian, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Callander and Provost Debbi McCall made a special visit to Donny and Cilla Haig at their home in Loanhead today to congratulate them on 60 years of marriage.
After presenting the couple with flowers and a special message from His Majesty The King, the Lord-Lieutenant and the Provost were gobsmacked to learn the Haigs still have an original copy of the newspaper.
Provost McCall said: “What a fantastic memento, still cherished after all these years.”
Mr and Mrs Haig married at Loanhead West Church on 26 March 1965 after meeting at the dancing in Penicuik Town Hall the previous April.
The Haigs have two grown up children. They welcomed their first daughter Donna on 20 January 1966 while Donna’s sister Sharon completed the family when she came along on 18 January 1967.
Donny worked at the Papermill in Dalmore, Bilston Glen Colliery and Standard Life. Cilla has worked with McTaggart Scott and then Standard Life.
Their daughters say they will always be grateful for the hard work and sacrifices their mum and dad made to give them a fantastic childhood.
They say they enjoyed the best of everything, including horses and ponies because they loved animals.
There were also holidays every year to places such as Great Yarmouth, Blackpool, Scarborough and abroad.
Following their retirement, Cilla and Donny continued to enjoy travelling to places far and wide including Florida, The Caribbean, Italy, Turkey and Australia.
The couple was delighted when Donna married Raymond and Sharon married Frank.
Raymond and Frank have always been made to feel very much part of their family.
Cilla and Donny became grandparents, with Donna and Raymond having four children. Natalie, Paul, Danielle and Calum. They are also now great grandparents to five great grandchildren. Jack, Amelie, Rory, Rosie and Sebastian. They are always happy to help with babysitting duties whenever they can.
Happy Diamond Wedding anniversary to Donny and Cilla!