A PARKHALL couple who met while out dancing at a Glasgow ballroom have just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

George and Sandra Yannetta married on May 4, 1968, at St Mary’s Church, Balornock, after meeting a year-and-a-half earlier.

After meeting at the Locarno Ballroom in Sauchiehall Street, Sandra told her mother that George was a Bankie, which provoked an interesting reaction.

Sandra explained: “My mother was laughing because I told her he was from Clydebank and she said, 'Clydebank? That’s not a boyfriend, that’s a pen-pal'.”

Once the couple had married, they went on to have two children – Karen and Louise – and four grandchildren named Chloe, Sam, Ollie and Mya.

Of the wedding day, they remembered it rained but said it was a lovely occasion spent with close family and friends.

George, a retired mechanical engineer, revealed it was one his dad particularly enjoyed.

The 69-year-old joked: “He didn’t really drink but that day he had a few drinks. He was leaning against the wall and he slid down it.”

They set up home in Jellicoe Street, Dalmuir, and Karen was born in November 1968 with Louise joining the family at Broom Drive, Parkhall, in October 1974.

The pair made many friends over the years during their time as members of Singer Bowling Club, and they hold their family close to their heart.

Sandra, 67, said she “loves” being a grandmother and added: “We have plenty of contact with the grandchildren. That’s important to us.”

They also enjoy going on holiday and have travelled all over the world, citing most European countries among the places they have visited, as well as India, Egypt, Antigua and Tunisia.

“We usually have nice holidays twice a year,” Sandra added. “You can’t beat going somewhere different, having different food and trying different things.”

The wonder of the Taj Mahal in India created one of George’s favourite holiday memories.

“It still sticks in my mind,” he said. “It was beautiful.”

George and Sandra said there was no real secret behind a successful marriage but reckoned they have had an easier life than their parents and grandparents.

George said: “My sister had a picture of the whole family years ago. They looked old, but we don’t.

“Life’s much easier now. My grandad and my dad worked hard. We have all worked hard but in different ways.”

Sandra said: “We can’t pass on advice because everyone’s different and wants different things in life.

"But don’t get me wrong there’s some days I have had to lock him out of the house.”