Blind date couple celebrate 70 years

THEY met on a blind date when Britain was on the brink of the Second World War.

Standing outside the former Rutland Cinema on Canning Street in 1939, George Romanis and Jemima Forrester had no way of knowing one day they would celebrate 70 years of marriage.

Today, the Lasswade Road couple are raising their glasses with family and friends to toast their platinum wedding anniversary – and seven decades of commitment.

Mrs Romanis, 88, joked: "I think the secret to a long and happy marriage is to put up with each other."

It was a friend of Mr Romanis, 90, who paired him up with Jemima, "Mima", while he was stationed at Leith Fort as a member of the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC).

He was born and raised in Gorgie – and is a life-long Hearts supporter – and was educated at Craiglockart and Tynecastle schools.

His soon-to-be wife was raised in the south side of the city and attended the James Clark School.

Their blind date to the cinema that would prove to be the first of many outings.

Mr Romanis said: "My first impressions were good, but I think she was more interested in me than I was in her!

"We have been very close ever since."

The pair soon began courting and when Mr Romanis was called up to war they agreed they would marry on his first leave home, writing to each other as often as possible before he arrived back in the city.

They were married at St Michael's Church on Slateford Road on 2 March 1940, and had a small reception with family. Mr Romanis said: "She looked beautiful – she always has done."

Mr Romanis served overseas until 1947, including tours of France, the Middle East and Burma, getting home as frequently as possible, and leaving Jemima pregnant with their first child, Charmaine, on one occasion.

He said: "Mima and I wrote to each other all the time but I never met Charmaine until she was four.

"I had photographs sent out to me which was great, but it was difficult when I came home – I was a stranger coming into her life. She's certainly used to me now though."

The couple went on to have three more children, Carol, David and Susan, and now have nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

During the war, Mrs Romanis worked at Youngers brewery, going on to become a post mistress in the south side, as well as a telephonist.

After leaving the army, Mr Romanis worked at the Fountainbridge rubber mill, before becoming a miner at Easthouses and Monktonhall until 1980. He was also chairman of the RASC association and the Royal Waggoners club, which met in Gayfield Square, for 34 years.

The couple have lived in their current home for 20 years.

Today they were to celebrate at their house with family and friends. Mr Romanis said: "I wouldn't change anything about the last 70 years.

"Mima is very easy to get on with and we both have a good sense of humour – maybe that's the secret to a long and happy marriage."