Harvey and Birgit are still happily married living in Arizona with two daughters and three granddaughters.
A couple who eloped to Dumfries in defiance of the groom’s parents 50 years ago celebrate their golden wedding anniversary tomorrow.
“When two pretty young ladies walked in, we started talking and discovered they were from Denmark. The four of us spent the following days together, enjoying Edinburgh. “Unfortunately somehow my parents discovered the travel plan and interfered with Birgit’s trip to the US so while Birgit was in NY I was already in Chicago. When I discovered this I got in touch with Birgit via Western Union telegrams. We agreed she would now fly to Chicago and we would meet at the airport.
“I was just about to go down the porch stairs to my van when I heard the conversation on the phone and ripped the phone out of my brother’s hands. It was indeed Birgit calling from Chicago about to return to Denmark. We agreed she should come to New York and I met her at La Guardia airport. “Birgit had heard of a place in Scotland called Gretna Green where it would be possible for us to get married. So, in August 1973 when I was 19 and Birgit 22, we headed to Scotland. In order to get married though, a special sheriff’s licence was required which we eventually got in Stirling. Our travels took us to the wonderful town of Dumfries where we arranged a wedding at the town hall.
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