Moray couple toast seven decades of marriage
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A MORAY couple, who have spent a life together in all corners of the world, were this week celebrating a remarkable 70 years since they tied the knot.
Roger (91) and Margaret (92) Goldsworthy have experienced much since they were married in 1945, and on Tuesday were in good spirits as they marked their platinum wedding anniversary.
The young couple met in Africa. After they were married, Mr Goldsworthy’s career in the RAF took them to Hereford, Lincoln, Shropshire, Borneo, Singapore, Sardinia and Kinloss.
It was from RAF Kinloss that Mr Goldsworthy retired in 1983, and the couple have lived in the same house near Alves for the past 36 years.
Their celebrations on Tuesday were low-key, with a spread of coffees and cakes put on at home, which they enjoyed with close friends.
Despite originally having families based in the north of Scotland – Mr Goldsworthy’s in Nairn and Mrs Goldsworthy’s in Inverness – the couple were married after meeting in Kenya.
Mr Goldsworthy had been a pilot during World War II, based mainly in East Africa.
The couple met when he visited a coffee shop in which she was working.
"He was 21 and I was 22 when we were married. Everybody thought we were far too young, and there was a war on," Mrs Goldsworthy recalled.
After they married, the couple farmed in Kenya, keeping animals and growing crops.
Mr Goldsworthy then became colonial district officer at Bondo, in Kenya, where they stayed for 10 years.
In 1952, they were among the first people to learn of the death of King George VI.
Mrs Goldsworthy was working near the Treetops retreat in a remote part of Kenya when she took a call from the authorities in the United Kingdom, in which she was informed that the King was dead.
The future Queen Elizabeth was then told of the news, and arrangements were made to transport her back to the UK.
Mr Goldsworthy had been part of the entourage which had earlier welcomed the then Princes Elizabeth and her husband, Philip, when they touched down in the East African country.
On leaving Kenya, Mr Goldsworthy rejoined the RAF and found himself in Hereford in the air force’s catering department, where he was taught from scratch.
From there the couple were moved on military postings to Lincoln, Shropshire, Borneo, Singapore, Sardinia, Kinloss and Leuchars.
Mr Goldsworthy was then posted again to RAF Kinloss, where he became a Squadron Leader in charge of the catering establishment, before his retiremant in 1983.
Mrs Goldsworthy spent a number of years volunteering for Save The Children, and also worked at the old Bilbohall Hospital, in Elgin, as an occupational therapist.
After retiring, they did a lot of travelling around Europe, but are now used to a more sedate pace.
That was reflected in their celebrations this week, during which they invited a number of close friends around to their house. The couple do not have any family.
"We have several very good friends and we are being well looked after. We haven’t got anything major planned – it’s not as though we can go out dancing any more!" said Mr Goldsworthy.
As for the secret of their long marriage, she said good health is key.
"Speaking of age, I had to go to the dentist the other day in Spynie," she said.
"The dentist said ‘I don’t very often get people of your age with all their own teeth.’ She said ‘how did you manage?’ I said ‘I had a tough mother!’ "
