A couple who met on a blind date have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.
Taylor, 83, and Ann Singleton, 79, met in Dumbarton while he was serving in the Royal Navy, based at Rosyth, and she was training to become a nurse.
“Mum’s friend really liked this man who was in the navy but her parents were very strict and told her that she was not allowed to go on a date without a chaperone,” said the couple’s daughter Jane Redmond.
“Mum did not want to go and be a third wheel and the man said that he would bring a pal along as well, which happened to be my dad.
“He did not tell her his real name to start with. When asked his name he said he was Fred Silver, which has been a running joke in the family for years.”
The couple were married at their home in Dumbuck Road, Dumbarton, on November 28, 1962. In Scotland it was the person who is licensed to marry and not the premises as it is in England.
Taylor and Ann, who renewed their vows 10 years ago when it was their golden wedding, have four children – Taylor, James, Shaun and Jane – and nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, with another due in May!
It was the first time that all the family had been together for 10 years and the couple were visited by Keswick mayor Steve Harwood and Cllr Alan Dunn also paid a visit to the couple’s Derwent Close home to say a few words.
They also received a congratulatory card from the King and Queen Consort which now has pride of place on their wall.
Taylor served in the Royal Navy for around 10 years and sailed around the world on ships with his favourites being HMS Warrior and HMS Ocean. He is a nuclear test veteran and was part of Operation Grapple on Christmas Island and witnessed a nuclear blast from 20 miles away with Government instructions to turn his back on the explosion. He is a member of the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association.
The couple moved to Keswick in the mid-1960s and Taylor worked as a painter and decorator with his brother Tich who lives in Threlkeld. Ann worked for around 15 years at Derwent Jewellers in Keswick.
