TODAY is a double diamond day for two couples from Burton.
Ray and Margaret Woodhouse, of Denton Road, share their 60th wedding anniversary with Gordon and Joan Watts, of Main Street, Branston.
The couples, who are close friends, married on September 2, 1950, after having grown up in Burton. Both couples have lived in the town all their lives.
All four are keen dancers and will be celebrating their anniversaries together by hitting Gresley Old Hall on Saturday night.
They will also be having separate family lunches with their loved ones.
Ray met Margaret at a dance at the Drill Hall in Horninglow Street. After offering to walk her home, Ray then revealed he was returning to Germany the next day because he was serving in the armed forces.
Mrs Woodhouse said: “He took my address but I didn’t expect to hear anything. But he wrote to me every day, before coming home three months later and we have never looked back since then.” They married two and half years later at St Aidan’s church in Shobnall.
Three hours earlier Gordon and Joan had tied the knot.
They also met on the dance floor, at a shilling hop at the Jubilee Hall in Orchard Street.
Mrs Watts said: “I was with someone else at the time but Gordon offered to take me out. He bought me chocolates and treated me much better, and here we are now.” After two and half years courting, they married at All Saints Church in Branston Road.
Mr Watts added: “It’s so long ago, but I remember we were just thrilled to be married.” Mrs Woodhouse said: “We’re very lucky; we’ve had such a wonderful life together.
“We feel very fortunate to have had so much time together.” Mr Watts added: “We all have our ups and downs, but you just pull together and solve your problems.”
