Shall we dance? How love blossomed for a Kirkcaldy couple at the Tudor Ballroom 60 years ago

By Debbie Clarke
Published 13th Mar 2020, 15:48 BST
Updated 13th Mar 2020, 16:16 BST
Peter and Nan McQueen, of Torridon Place Kirkcaldy, celebrated their Diamond Wedding on Thursday 5th March. Cllr Neil Crooks presented a gift voucher on behalf of Fife Council, and Col Jim Kinloch DL represented the Lieutenancy. Pic Andrew Beveridge/Fife CouncilPeter and Nan McQueen, of Torridon Place Kirkcaldy, celebrated their Diamond Wedding on Thursday 5th March. Cllr Neil Crooks presented a gift voucher on behalf of Fife Council, and Col Jim Kinloch DL represented the Lieutenancy. Pic Andrew Beveridge/Fife Council
Peter and Nan McQueen, of Torridon Place Kirkcaldy, celebrated their Diamond Wedding on Thursday 5th March. Cllr Neil Crooks presented a gift voucher on behalf of Fife Council, and Col Jim Kinloch DL represented the Lieutenancy. Pic Andrew Beveridge/Fife Council
A Kirkcaldy couple who met at the dancing in the town’s Tudor Ballroom in Hunter Street more than 60 years ago have recently celebrated their diamond wedding.

Peter (79) and Nan McQueen (81) celebrated the occasion by having a party with family and friends at Dunnikier Golf Club and a family meal at the Ship Inn in Kinghorn.

Peter and Nan met at the Tudor Ballroom in Hunter Street, Kirkcaldy – on the site where Pane E Vino Italian restaurant is now.

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They had their first date at the Regal cinema in Kirkcaldy High Street and he proposed to her in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh.

Nan and Peter McQueen on their wedding day.Nan and Peter McQueen on their wedding day.
Nan and Peter McQueen on their wedding day.

She and Peter got married at the former Abbotsrood Church in Kirkcaldy on March 5, 1960.

Nan even achieved special recognition in the Fife Free Press at the time because she was chosen as the FFP Bride of the Month! And her prize was two fireside chairs which were provided by Hardy’s furniture store.

Nan was born in Kirkcaldy and attended Gallatown school and then Viewforth school. She then went to work in the Co-op before taking up a job in the tile plant in Nairns.

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Peter is originally from Bowhill and went to Auchterderran primary and secondary schools. His first job was coal mining and he worked at Bowhill number one pit.

Peter and Nan, who was named Bride of the Month in the Fife Free Press, with their fireside chairs presented to them by Mr Marsh, manager of Hardy's Furniture Stores.Peter and Nan, who was named Bride of the Month in the Fife Free Press, with their fireside chairs presented to them by Mr Marsh, manager of Hardy's Furniture Stores.
Peter and Nan, who was named Bride of the Month in the Fife Free Press, with their fireside chairs presented to them by Mr Marsh, manager of Hardy's Furniture Stores.

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He joined the Royal Air Force in 1959 and was in the RAF for 23 and a half years.

He had two tours in Germany, one in Bahrain and the other postings he had were in the UK. When he was stationed in Leuchars he was catering mess manager and when he left the RAF he was manager of the markethall in Kirkcaldy.

He then went on to work as catering manager at Mossmorran before securing a post as officers mess manager at Leuchars where he worked for 16 years until he retired.In 1982 Nan and Peter moved back to Kirkcaldy.

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Nan started working in the office for Lawson and Fisher before she became a nursing auxiliary at Forth Park Hospital where she worked for 11 years before retiring.

The couple have a daughter Gail, son Darrin, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Related topics:Kirkcaldy