THE first couple to enter a mixed-sex civil partnership in the Wee County have put pen to paper at the Speirs Centre last week.

Clacks photographer and film maker Alan Paterson and Clacks Choral Society president Viv Fairchild are understood to have become the first couple in the area to become civil partners under landmark legislation.

The Tullibody couple put pen to paper at a small ceremony, having been together for 30 years.

Alan said: “I always felt that you shouldn’t rush into these kind of things, but after 30 years sticking with each other through thick and thin that it was time to formalise our relationship.

“The ceremony was made very special by local registrar, Elaine Henderson, in the lovely venue of the Ceremony Room within the Spiers Centre.

“Two of our friends, Lachie and Linda Maclachlan, were kind enough to be our witnesses and this made for a very nice personal event within the Covid rules for social distancing.

Viv and Alan took advantage of legislation coming into force last Wednesday, June 30, allowing couples to enter mixed-sex civil partnerships.

They went ahead with the ceremony that day – having put forward their intention at the start of June, around year after the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 was passed at Holyrood.

Getting to the registry office was made more difficult by a traffic jam in Alloa town centre on the day – owing to road works, but both the couple and their witnesses, in separate cars, managed to make it with a few minutes to spare.

Viv and Alan have been keeping their plans a secret up until the last minute.

However, their neighbours became suspicious when they appeared outside all suited and booted before leaving for the Speirs Centre.

Word travelled like wildfire and by the time they returned home, they were greeted by a big round of applause.

Viv said: “It was a wonderful afternoon and the civil ceremony was excellent.

“After 30 years together, neither of us wanted a lot of fuss and it was just perfect for both of us.

“I would highly recommend it to others.”

The change in law that afforded the Clacks couple a choice over how they wanted to formalise their relationship is considered “ground-breaking”.

It means that in Scotland, both same and mixed-sex couple can choose to marry or enter a civil relationship.

A civil partnership gives couples the same rights and responsibilities as a marriage.

The legislation was welcomed by Christina McKelvie, minister for equalities.

She said: “This ground-breaking change in law demonstrates our commitment to creating a fairer and more inclusive society for all.

“I wish good luck to all couples who are entering Scotland’s first mixed-sex civil partnerships.”