A LOT of affection and caring are the ingredients for a successful marriage, say a Lartington couple who are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.
Queen Elizabeth II was among many who sent cards and well-wishes to Ken and Dorothy Robertson to congratulate them on 60 years of marriage on June 3.
The couple met in Bishop Auckland through Mr Roberston’s cousin, Jean Wilson, and were married at St James’ Church, in Counden, two years later in 1959.
They moved to Lartington about 20 years ago to be closer to their family, with Mr Roberston working as a joiner for Charge Bros, in Gainford, and his wife at Glaxo. She said: “I loved it there. I loved my job. I inspected all the drugs and picked all the faults out.”
While June 3 will always be a significant date for the pair, November 15 is equally as important. Mr Roberston said: “I was born on the same day as my mam and dad were married three years before.”
It was also the date the couple became engaged.
The 83-year-old added. “We had a triple celebration that year – my mam and dad’s silver wedding, my 22nd birthday and our engagement.”
Although the couple never had any children, they almost constantly had dogs and were prolific breeders, particularly of Shetland sheep dogs. Mr Roberston said: “We had a Crufts winner out of the very first litter.”
Sadly, the couple had to give up breeding dogs when Mrs Roberston was hospitalised about 10 years ago. As for the longevity of the marriage, Mrs Roberston said: “It is a lot of affection and caring.”
Her husband added: “We had just sort of fallen in with each other, that’s it.”
