A CLYDEBANK couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Saturday with their favourite meal – steak pie and chips.

Elizabeth and Robert Pollock, both aged 73, went to Benny’s Cafe, just by the old Bisley Bar on North Elgin Street, for their first date.

They later tied the knot at Our Holy Redeemer’s Church on June 27, 1970.

The couple spent the next five decades living in Clydebank, where they raised their daughter Anne, before a recent move to Dumbarton.

Elizabeth, better known as Betty, grew up in Yoker as Elizabeth McLaughlin, before moving to Glasgow Road after the couple married.

Robert was born in London but grew up in Whitecrook, in Belmont Street and King Street, before spending some of his teenage years in Ireland.

Anne described her parents as “Clydebank’s very own Jack and Victor”, and said that more than half a century since they met, the couple still argue over who was more interested in the other on that first date.

Betty worked in Singer’s during her late teens before working as a cleaner in schools and later moving into the print industry and remaining there until she retired at 65.

When asked for the secret of their years of happy marriage, Robert said: “When you know, you know – I just knew I loved her.”

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Betty said: “Back then, when Anne was wee, money wasn’t the be all and end all.

“Things were hard, and money was tight, but we had our own entertainment and we all helped one another out.

“We used to put the tranny [radio] on and we would all pick a song and sing it, a bit like karaoke.

“It was a great laugh – not that many of us could sing mind you!”

Robert now has dementia and although forgetful, he still remembers meeting Betty and getting married.

The couple now have four grandchildren, Ciaran, Shannon, Chelsea and Lauryn, all of whom helped them celebrate on Saturday.

Despite lockdown, the family were keen to enjoy the day and make the most of it.

With no restaurants open, Anne asked if they would like a restaurant delivery from one of the family’s favourite restaurants, but the pair kindly declined.

Instead, Robert and Betty told the family they would rather celebrate with their favourite dinner from decades ago – steak pie and chips, or, as they know it, “pie and jockey’s whips”.