A COUPLE from Central Fife are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary today (Thursday) after getting together as teenage sweethearts.

Bert and Chrissie Lees, who now live in Kelty, met at Lumphinnans Miners Institute in 1954 when they were 16.

Chrissie was born and brought up in Lochgelly and was working in Hays the Grocers at the time they met whereas Bert, who is originally from Kelty, was an apprentice coppersmith in Rosyth Dockyard.

Following a short romance, the pair got married on the July 8, 1961 in St Patrick’s in Lochgelly.

Their first home was in Crossgates where they had their two daughters, Margaret and Jackie.

They now have two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Over the years Chrissie has had a few jobs including a clippie, barmaid and factory worker.

Bert was an instructor at HMS Caledonia before he was transferred in 1984 due to closure to HMS Sultan in Gosport in Hampshire where he became a civilian training officer with the Navy.

At this time, they lived in Fareham where Chrissie worked in Smith’s Crisps until it closed in 1992 and then in Sainsburys.

During their time in Fareham they enjoyed the many visits family and friends paid them.

The pair then moved back home to be near their family in 1996. Bert went to work in Kelty Primary School where he was the janitor, a job he enjoyed until he retired 12 years later.

Over the years they have enjoyed going on holiday, their favourite being Italy where they have made many dear friends.

Bert’s main hobby has been fly fishing and he has enjoyed many an outing on many different waters.

They have made many friends they would love to have shared this special occasion with but because of restrictions sadly it is not to be.