JESSIE and Bill Burns have been a couple who always are there to help people.

And now, even though they are both in the seventies, they always have time for others and there was a large gathering at the Bowhill Hotel to help them celebrate their golden wedding which was June 21.

With Bill having been chairman of the Bowhill Centre management committee or 45 years and been part of Cardenden Boxing Club for more than half a century, it is no surprise that the duo, who stay in Silverton Drive, have always been keen to offer help.

Bill is Cardenden born and bred while Jessie is from Kirkcaldy, and they met at the Burma Ballroom in the Lang Toun, in 1967.

Bill had been boxing for nine years by that time and his impressive performances caught the eyes of the Scottish selectors and he made his debut against Wales in 1964.

He won many titles as a lightweight and welterweight and was to be capped 12 times and he also boxed for the St Francis Club, in Dundee.

Bill played a big part in the rebuilding of the Cardenden ABC and has held the positions of president, coach and has also refereed at all levels and been an international judge, as well as being East District secretary.

During his working life Bill was a time served painter and decorator and worked in the building industry at a time when new towns, Livingston and Glenrothes were being built.

Later he worked with the Apex Trust helping young offenders and also trained young people as part of the YTS initiative.

He became chair of the Community Centre management committee when it was based in Main Street, Cardenden, and when it moved to what is now the Bowhill Centre, he continued in the role and is still in it to this day.

Jessie worked in assembling telephones at a Glenrothes factory and then with the Rank organisation, in Kirkcaldy.

When the couple's two children arrived she a spell away from the work place but became a home help after the children got a bit older and then worked for the council's Direct Cleaning organisation before retiring in 2006.

Jessie has been a willing assistant to Bill whether it be at the Boxing Club, helping organise boxing shows, and has also been ready to help in any way she can.

Said Jessie: "We like helping people and it has become a way of life."

Added Bill: "I have always enjoyed working with young people and give them any advice they might ask for whether it be in the boxing club, Bowhill Centre or the workplace."

Bill is also a former Times Community Champion having won the Sports award a few years ago for his work with the CABC and his record as a fighter.

Jessie and Bill have son Colin, and daughter Lorraine, and two grandsons and two grand-daughters.