Maths couple from Alexandria count 60 years together

William and Marjorie Muir, who live in Alexandria, marked their 60 years together on December 29 with a party and received a visit from the deputy provost John Millar.

The couple met in the 1950s in London at the Newman Association, a national organisation dedicated to discussing and developing their members’ understanding of the Christian faith.

Both William and Marjorie were teaching mathematics and eventually married on December 29, 1956, moving to Scotland shortly thereafter when William got a job as a university lecturer.

The pair moved to Dumbarton in 1982 with Marjorie working as a principle maths teacher and William continuing as a lecturer at Strathclyde University until their retirement in 1982.

When asked what the secret to reaching 60 years of married life was the couple credited their religion and similarities as being major factors.

Marjorie told the Reporter: “We have so much in common. We were both converts, both mathematics teachers and we both loved children.

“I think having such similar interests it was easier for us just to get along happily with things.

“The church is a good guide for this kind of thing and we have always had that with us.”

William added: “You don’t realise what you’ve done. You reach 60 years and it all just goes by so fast, it’s really amazing.”

The diamond duo boast a big family with five children: Andrew, Stephen, Julie, Thomas and Catriona, and 11 grandchildren.

With a love for cathedrals and churches William and Marjorie would often travel to the likes of Tenerife and Malta to tour the different cathedrals. However, bouts of ill health prevented more travel in recent years and when William suffered a broken back in 2016, travelling was off the table.

The injury confines William to his bed but the couple have not let it keep them down and say they are “getting by just fine”, although they appreciate the help from visiting carers.