Marriage secret is ‘say yes to everything’ says Worksop husband of 60 years

Expat Scotsman Richard Galloway married wife Martha on October 15, 1960, at Worksop’s St Mary’s Church on Park Street.

Grandfather-of-two Richard, 83, was introduced to Martha - whose parents also settled in Bassetlaw from Scotland - through one of his four sisters.

Martha, 78, would visit his family home every day until gradually love ‘blossomed’ between the pair.

Richard recalls his father’s advice about marriage before proposing to Martha.

Great-grandfather-of-one Richard said: “I said I was going to get married and his only words were ‘don’t’.

Diamond duo Richard and Martha wed on a sunny autumnal day in front of 50 guests - celebrating their reception later at Ryton Street’s King Edward VII pub.

They departed for their honeymoon - two weeks in Dolgellau, Mid Wales, - the same day - staying in a cottage on the side of mountain Cader Idris.

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The adoring couple spent days at the nearby coast and nights in an old-fashioned cinema with ‘just benches’ to sit on.

Former lorry and bus driver Richard told how en-route to the holiday home the pair were stranded just out of town by a puncture.

After being told by the cottage landlady ‘just leave it there - it’ll be fine’ Richard returned the following morning to fetch the tyre from his car - still sitting in the middle of the road - to get it repaired.

Richard, who spent three years in Malaysia during the Malayan Emergency, was still serving in the army when his parents moved to Worksop from north of the border.

After he and Martha married the pair moved around a lot - their first home was a flat in Carlton, followed by a stone cottage in Eastgate which has since been demolished.

They spent a couple of years in Plantation Hill and then on the Prospect estate before buying their first house - on Vessey Road.

After 10 years there the couple sent another 20 in a new house in Colsterdale before moving to their current home - a bungalow in Bracebridge.

A year after their marriage their son Neil, 59, was born. Neil, their only child, has two children - Richard and Martha’s granddaughters Jessica, 25, and Megan, 23.

Richard’s first job after the Army was as a driver for Lidster and Sons stonemasons before working as a bus driver - then as a heavy goods driver until retirement.

Martha was a cook at Valley School for many years before finishing her career teaching arts and crafts at Ranby Prep School.

Proud Scotsman Richard spent 30 years as a piper for the Nottinghamshire branch of pipe and drum band Seaforth Highlanders.

However he has now taken up the ukulele - adding ‘I don’t have to march anymore’.

Martha, who was an active member of Worksop’s Caledonian Society with Richard, spends time sewing.

The pair are celebrating their 60 years together with a week at Liverpool’s Pullman Hotel - a gift from loving son Neil - and a family meal at Van Dyk Hotel, Clowne.

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