He's My John: A Love Story 60 Years in the Making

In 1966, John and Agnes got married at St Catherine's Church in Barmulloch, Glasgow. The couple, who have been living together at Cumbernauld Care Home for just over a year, have just celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary and are still very much in love.

On their wedding day, they were very surprised to wake up to 3 feet of snow and Agnes was very grateful to her family and friends who carried her into church so her wedding dress and shoes wouldn't get wet. Little did they know, that 60 years later, they'd have another wonderful surprise organised by family and friends for their Diamond anniversary.

As it approached, the team at Cumbernauld Care, who knew that both John and Agnes wanted to surprise each other for their anniversary, wanted to make some magic happen. Kim, Wellbeing Lead at Cumbernauld Care, worked secretly with both John and Agnes to make their wishes for each other come true. For Agnes, this meant arranging a country singer called David to perform live at the care home.

For John, he received a beautiful framed photograph of the happy couple on their wedding day.

On their wedding day, John and Agnes had a meal at the one remaining restaurant to be open because of snow. At Cumbernauld Care, the kitchen team prepared a buffet lunch to recreate this meal as a surprise and their family and friends came along to share in their joy.

John and Agnes met in 1963 at the ages of 17 and 18, when they were out with friends. As well as having friends come to their party, unbeknownst to them, their resident friends had been in on the surprise, helping to choose decorations on the home’s iPad which were used to create a real party atmosphere.

When John and Agnes entered the dining room, Nat King Cole's Unforgettable was playing as their family, friends, Kim and the other team members clapped to welcome them to their party. The dining room had never been so full, with over 60 people in attendance.

Agnes and John were truly surprised and very happy.

Agnes summed up her feelings by saying, "I love him. Look at him! He's handsome! He's my John!" And John summed things up for himself saying, "She's the love of my life! Being together all these years is just the best feeling. I've married my best friend. My true love. I could not live without her."

As well as being grateful for their love and friendship over 60 wonderful years, Agnes and John were grateful to Kim and the team. As the realisation dawned on Agnes about what had been done for them she commented, "You have done all of this for us? For me and my John? It's wonderful!" And taking Kim's hand and smiling, John said, "It's lovely, thank you so much. Where would we be without you?"

Kim, who describes them as 'a truly amazing couple', feels honoured to have been part of such a special day and hopes to be as happy in her own marriage after 60 years as John and Agnes so clearly are in theirs.