A COWDENBEATH couple celebrated the final day of this year like so many, but not just because 2020 was finally over.

On December 31, 2020, William and Doris Small celebrated 60 years of marriage. Decades after meeting at Fairley’s Dance Hall in Edinburgh, the couple are happily married living in Lumphinnans.

Doris, originally from Leith, and William, born and bred in Lumphinnans, married a year after meeting in the capital and went on to live a full life together.

William, now 84, was in the Blackwatch Army and became a lorry driver for Walker Bros and Doris was a factory worker in Edinburgh before relocating across the Forth to raise a family with William.

William, who was 23 to Doris’ 18 at the time of meeting, began his working life at 14-years-old down the pits before working on the railways for the army.

As they began having kids, Doris, now 79, worked part-time as a cleaner and janitor in primary schools before retiring.

Together they had four children – Billy, Janet, Brenda and Helen – before welcoming 10 grandchildren and one great granddaughter who they are yet to meet as she lives in Canada.

Over the years the couple have loved holidaying with their family with much-loved caravan tour trips before they embarked on foreign trips later in life.

Sadly, William is now suffering from advanced dementia and is cared for by Doris and the wider family.