Aberdeen Couple Celebrates 70 Years
A couple celebrating 70 years of marriage said the secret to their long and happy partnership was “teamwork” and avoiding fights by “agreeing to disagree”.
Doris and Doug Grant, from Aberdeen, were teenagers when they met at a youth club in 1954.
They both enjoyed dancing and Doug recalls choosing Doris as his dancing partner.
“I’m glad I picked her, it was a good choice,” said Doug, 90.
Doris, 88, added: “I just got on really well with him.”
The couple married in 1956 and celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary – a milestone only reached by about 30 couples in the UK each year - with a tea party surrounded by family and friends at Renaissance Care’s Jesmond Home in Aberdeen, where Doris is cared for.
Asked how other couples could stay together for seven decades, Doris said: "In marriage there is no "boss". You need to be a team and that means good communication, compromise and a sharing of tasks.”
She added: “No fighting, no arguments, if you have a difference of opinion, just agree to disagree and move on.”
Doug said the couple aways shared the housework, which can often be a source of tension in a relationship. He joked: “I’ve always ironed my trousers better than Doris, anyway.”
The couple raised two daughters, Lorraine and Carol, who recalled that family life was peaceful.
“We never heard Mum and Dad argue or raise their voices,” said Lorraine, XX. “They just got on and made things work. There was lots of good humour, too.”
Just two weeks after getting married, Doug shipped out to Cyprus for National Service.
He received a medal for being the best recruit in his year and was promoted to lance corporal. He trained as a joiner and for 30 years was chief technician at the Northern College of Education in the Hilton area of Aberdeen.
He added: “My main focus was making sure that Doris and our daughters were happy. If we were all happy, this was enough reward.”
Doris worked in reprographics for most of her adult life and her last job before retiring was with Grampian Regional Council at Woodhill House in the printing department.
Later in life, the couple enjoyed travelling around the UK for holidays in their motorhome. They had two of them before getting a static van in Aviemore.
“It was our home away from home and we made some great friends with other long-term van owners,” said Doris.
