A KILWINNING couple have celebrated 60 years of marriage - with a message from the Queen.

John Bannerman tied the knot with Margaret Jamieson, from Springside, six decades ago and have now been recognised by Her Majesty.

John, who moved to East Ayrshire a few years ago, told the Herald: “We both worked in a large print firm in Kilmarnock and it was virtually love at first sight, when she was the tea-lady.

“One look at those big, brown eyes and I was hooked - line and sinker.”

Before getting married, John and Margaret had been going out for three years previously. Now, the couple have a family tree to be proud of.

John added: “We have grand-children, and also a great-grand-daughter, who will be a somebody one day! One grandson is a music composer, one is a pilot and the other is an engineer.

“Then we have one who is a nurse at Crosshouse and another retired from being an executive at Hewlett Packard.

“God only knows where they get their brains from!”