Alison and James Rafferty celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in their Hamilton home, surrounded by family, friends and two surprise guests: South Lanarkshire’s Provost Margaret Cooper, who presented the couple with flowers and a certificate on behalf of the council, and Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Lanarkshire Alison Plummer, who handed over a certificate to mark their achievement on behalf of King Charles.

The couple married in 1965 at St Margaret’s Church, Ayr, and moved to Lanarkshire in the early 1970s, teaching from then onwards in Lanarkshire schools, with Alison being the head teacher at St Partick’s Primary, in New Stevenson, and Jim (as he is more normally known) being principal teacher (guidance) and a French and Spanish teacher at Holy Cross HS, Hamilton, and later at Cardinal Newman HS, Bellshill.

Their two daughters are both solicitors, Helen working in Edinburgh and Jacqueline in London, and are married to Martin and Simon respectively, and their five grandchildren – Maria, Megan, Gregor, Honor and Claudia are all in their early 20s.

Just two days before their big anniversary, Alison and Jim were delighted to attend Honor’s Law graduation at Aberdeen University, but thankfully they made it home in time – after all, it would be a shame to be given detention for being late for your own celebrations!