A BIT of give and take has been the secret behind 60 years of wedded bliss between Inverkeithing couple George and Mary Smith.

The diamond couple, of King Street, celebrated reaching the landmark anniversary on May 10 with family and friends after tying the not just over a year after they first met in 1955.

Originally from Aberdeenshire, George, who had formerly been in the army, was working on a farm in his native north east when he “saw a lassie with long hair who was wearing a red beret” and “plucked up the courage” to speak to her.

Romance soon blossomed and the couple married in Aberdeen in 1956, moving to Inverkeithing 32 years ago when George took on a job as a supervisor with Bellshill-based firm United Carriers.

He said: “I got a job on a farm in Aberdeenshire after I came out the army – I’d been in the Middle East and, before that, Korea.

"One night I saw a lassie with long hair who was wearing a red beret and I plucked up the courage to go up to her. She was a maid on a farm a couple of miles to the other side and it started from there.”

George, 81, who has four children, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren with Mary, 79, said of his long marriage: “It’s about a bit of give and take and try not to argue! We had a do in the Gladyer Inn in Rosyth and some of our relations came down from Aberdeen, so it was great.”