Diamond day in Dumbarton

John and Liz McCafferty met on a blind date at the Continental Cafe in Dumbarton, and married while still teenagers 60 years ago.

Six decades on, their big day has been marked at a special ceremony in the family home in the Castlehill area of the town, with the Provost and the King's representative in attendance.

They married, aged 19, on the 23rd January 1965 at St Michael's Church in Dumbarton, followed by a reception at the Dumbuck Hotel, where the friends who arranged the blind date, Jackie and Lorraine Sweeney, were best man and Matron of Honour. Their daughter Jill arrived in September 1968 and daughter Susan in November 1972.

In his teens, John was an active member of the Air Training Corps and also a champion boxer. While John was a painter and decorator to trade, Liz was a stay at home mum. Once their daughters were both in school, they owned a newsagent in Westbridgend, Dumbarton and the Chocolate Box sweet shop in Alexandria. After giving up the shops, Liz worked as a book keeper and payroll clerk until her retirement. John joined the Civil Service as a storekeeper at HMNB Clyde and moved to become a senior craftsman painter & sign writer, dealing with intricate ship's crests. He become a keen bowler at Dumbarton Bowling Club and is a past president. He is also involved with the Gareloch Civil Service Bowls club of which he was also president.

Today John is still a keen bowler and Liz enjoys knitting and crochet.

Ahead of a family celebration at the Abbotsford Hotel, the couple were joined in their home in Dumbarton by Provost of West Dunbartonshire, Karen Murray Conaghan, and Professor Elaine Boyd OBE DL, who read a goodwill message from His Majesty, King Charles.

ReplyForwardAdd reaction