Mr George Devie, late of Midmar, and his wife, celebrated their golden wedding last night in the Alexandra Cafe, Market Street, Aberdeen, of which their son, Mr Charles Davie, is lessee. A large company, including members of the family, neighbours, and friends, were present at the celebration, and Rev. P. Taylor, Cluny United Free Church (West), presided.
After tea, The Chairman said they were met to celebrate a very interesting event, and one which was rather uncommon. They were met to offer their hearty congratulations and to express their goodwill and good wishes to their old friends Mr and Mrs Davie. (Applause.) That was the second golden wedding that he had had the honour of being present at during the course of his ministry, now extending to abbut 20 years. The first occurred at that time last year, when some of those present, along with many others, attended to celebrate the golden wedding of Mr and Mrs Davidson, and he was sure they were delighted to see that worthy couple with them that night as happy and as frech as ever. (Applause.) He had had a good many marriages in his time—perhaps more than a country minister’s share, generally speaking— but he had never had a diamond wedding, and he was waiting for their friends Mr and Mrs Davidson to give him that privilege. (Laughter and applause.) Mr Davie married very early in life. and he was sure thai their friend had no regrets that he had done so. (Applause.)
He was certain that their worthy friends had lived their lives pleasantly together and that company was present, as he had stated, to extend their congratulations to them on attaining that happy occasion, and on looking so fresh and well. (Applause.) It was natural that they would look back on an occasion like that and review the past as briefly as they possibly could, and for that purpose he had looked into the facts connected with the lives of Mr and Mrs Davie, and it would be interesting to those present to learn something of these facts. He learned that Mr Davie was born at Woodside, Fetternear, parish of Chapel of Garioch, on 15th August, 1833, so that he was now 75 years of age. Mrs Davie was born at Garlogie Farm, Skene, on 9th June, 1838 so that she was five years younger than Mr Davie, They were married on 9th June, 1858, at Burnside, Inverurie, by the Rev. Dr Davidson, minister of the parish. One thing that hed struck him (the Chairman) was that they must have been married very young. Mrs Davie must have only been 20 years and Mr Davie 25 years of age. Only recently they had followed to the grave a couple, one of whom was 93 years of age and the other 87, and their wish, he was ‘sure, was that Mr and Mrs Davie might live as long as that—and longer—and that they should be as happy then as they were now. (Applause.)
Mr and Mrs Davie had had 12 of a family—eight daughters and four sons, of whom five daughters and all the sons were alive. They were all married except the three youngest —two daughters and a son—and if the latter were to follow the example of their father and mother they would have to hurry up. (Applause.) They had had in all 27 grand-children, of whom 20 were alive. Those of them who knew their good friends knew how ambitious they were to do woll by their family, and they had been weil rewarded by seeing them sent respectably into the world to fight their own way. There were only two daughters, two sons, and two grand-children present that evening. They regretted very much that some of the family could not be present. Seme of them lived at great distances away, and owing to that fact and other circumstances they could not be there that evening. It must be a great satisfaction to their good friends to see present so many of those who had known them for euch a length of time, and particularly to see so many of their neighbours from Midmar, where Mr and Mrs Davie for 35 years had lived very quiet, unobtrusive, and useful lives, and, by their habits of sobriety and self-respect, bad gained the kind regard of all who knew them. (Applause.) It was only a year since they had retired to the city, and he (the chairman) was glad to find that they felt at home, and he was sure all their friends wished them a long and happy eventide together, brightened by sunny memories of the past, and with God’s best blessing for the future. (Applause.)
Mr Davie, in a sentence, thanked Mr Taylor and his other friends, and said he was delighted to see them present that night.
Mr W. Milne, Lauchentilly, gave the toast of “The Family.” Mr and Mrs Davie had reared a. large family, all of whom were in fair circumstances in life, and were an honour to their parents.
Mr John Davie, Mackie Place, the eldest son thanked those who had come to meet his old parents on that occasion, and he hoped to see them all at the diamond weeding. (Applause.)
Mr George Davie, Irvine Place, a nephew of the worthy couple, gave “The Guests,” and Mr George Garden, Esslemont Avenue, replied.
The Chairman then, in name of the family and friends, presented Mr and Mrg Davie with a purse full of sovereigns in the hope that the gift might do something to make their life all the happier. (Applause.)
Mr Davie returned thanks for the great kindness shown to his wife and him.
At this stage tel were read from Mr Davie (son), from Ellon, and Mr Cassie, Torphins, expressing regret at enforced absence.
Mr Charles Davie, Alexandra Cafe, proposed a vote of thanks to their worthy chairman, Mr Taylor.
The Chairman said it was a great pleasure to him to be present, and he knew it was also an equally great pleasure for his wife to be with them on that occasion. (Applause.)
A happy social hour was afterwards spent.
Aberdeen Journal 24 June 1908