FORMER depute provost of East Lothian Jim Gillies and his wife Elizabeth have toasted their golden wedding anniversary.

The happy couple were joined by family and friends at the Tweeddale Arms Hotel in Gifford on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of marriage.

Mr Gillies was a member of Ormiston’s community council for 16 years before becoming a councillor for the Fa’side ward in 2007.

He served the ward, which included Ormiston and Tranent, for a decade before losing his seat following a boundary reshuffle in 2017.

Mr Gillies was the depute provost to Ludovic Broun-Lindsay for five years.

His son Scott, who is chairman of Ormiston Community Council, said of his parents: “They still stay in Ormiston and still live on the same street, Hillview Road, since they got married.”

Jim, 73, and Elizabeth, 68, met in Pencaitland and tied the knot on August 14, 1971, at Tranent Registry Office.

The couple have two children, Scott and Colin, as well as two grandchildren, Niamh and Brodie.

Before becoming a councillor, Jim worked as a butcher in Ormiston’s Co-op store before moving to the Tranent store, which is now Asda.

His wife previously worked at St Joseph’s, in Rosewell, which cared for disabled children.