New Year A Golden Occasion
Hogmanay had extra special meaning for Scotish born Rainworth couple,John
and May Collins,who celebrated their Golden Wedding that day.They were surprised when they and their family were transported
to a party at Springfields Cantonese Restaurant, Calverton,Notts.They were further surprised when their son George and his
wife Jennie had secretly travelled from Plymouth to join them in the celebrations. The kind hearted couple are planning to
make a donation to the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance in lieu of having another party as many family and friends
could not travel from Scotland to be with them for the occasion.
John first met May on the promenade at Ayr,when he was on leave
from his regiment in Germany,and he said it was love at first site.They were married at The Wallace Tower,Ayr,on the 31st
of December 1953,after courting during his leave when serving in Libya,Malta,Egypt and Germany.
May recalled that on their wedding day the weather was very good
for December,but as the reception over ran,the coach taking them back to Rankinston and Dalmellington,ayr,stopped on the way
to allow a keg of beer from the boot to bring in the New Year in a traditional Scotish way.Their Honeymoon was spent in Dumfries.
John was born in New Cumnock,Ayrshire in 1931.His father worked
in the mines and his mother was in service for the Duke of Hamilton.
After leaving school aged 14,John spent his early working life on
farms and later followed his father into the mining industry.He then joined the Army in 1948 and became a gun fitter with
the Royal Scots Greys and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.After being de-mobbed he joined Aviation Ltd,Prestwick,as
a fitter.
Returning to the Mining Industry in 1955 he worked at Pennyvenie
Colliery,Dalmellington,and was transferred to Rufford Colliery,Rainworth in 1965.He worked his way up through the industry
and retired as Administration/Personnel manager in 1988.
Keen to be active in the community John has been secretary
and trustee of Rainworth Miners Welfare and a local councillor for Blidworth and Rainworth.He lists his hobies as trout fishing,motoring,reading
and crosswords and has traced his family tree back to the 1700s.
Meals
May nee White Hamilton was born in Rankinston in 1932.Her parents
both worked at the local school there as Janitor and Dinner Lady,May was often roped in to help serve the meals.May left school
aged 14 and worked at the Glen Park Hotel,Ayr,until her marriage.
After their move to Rainworth the couple settled at Thoresby
Road and May began work at Ransom Hospital and later Mansfield community Hospital,retiring in 1990.She enjoys spending time
with her family and doing crosswords,reading and gardening.
The couple have four daughters Margaret,Helen,Sandra and Isabel,two
sons George and Hugh,17 grand children and five great grand children.
