THIS week will be a glittering one for popular Lochgelly couple, Eleanor and Jim Cowan.

They celebrate their diamond wedding on Thursday, more than six decades after meeting up at a Co-op Inter-Youth Club night.

Cowdenbeath man Jim, and Lochgelly girl Eleanor, were soon seeing each other regularly and they married on October 26 1957 at the town's West Parish Church and it began a partnership which was to see them both become well known and popular members of the Lochgelly community, and with them both sport minded they became good bowlers and important members of Lumphinnans Bowling Club while Jim also was interested in the Scout Movement and was to go on to be secretary of the Benarty District of the Scouts for many years.

Jim worked at Rosyth Naval Base for a grand total of 44 years, starting there in 1951 as an engineer.

Eleanor lived for 66 years in Benarty Avenue and it was the couple's home on their marriage, with her working in the retail trade.

Jim became involved in working on the nuclear submarines that were based at Rosyth and when the Royal Dockyard was taken over by Babcock he became involved in working with management on how the transition could be best be operated.

Eleanor took 25 years away from work to bring up the couple's family but then went back to work with the Co-op in Lochgelly and she worked for many years in the grocery department.

The couple became very much involved in helping run the Lumphinnans Bowling Club.

Said Jim: "I ended up being the secretary and president and really loved looking after the green.

"We had quite a slope on the surface so the decision was taken to get it totally flat and it was quite a project which saw a lot of money having to be raised, but the members all rallied around and we now have a lovely flat surface."

Eleanor was the treasurer for a number of years as well as enjoying playing and like Jim she won more than a few competitions.

The Cowans have a daughter Lynne, and sons Brian and Steven, and three grand-daughters and three grandsons.

How have they reached 60 years wed? Said Eleanor: "I suppose we have been lucky in many ways but when we have a row we try to get over it as soon as possible."

Added Jim: "Anyone who says they don't have rows are not telling the truth, we just try to get them out the way quickly."

The couple, who now stay in Minto Street, are celebrating their diamond wedding by holding a couple of family events.