Couple celebrate their Diamond day

Geoffrey, 84 and Lillian, 87 of Stanton Crescent, were married at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sutton on February 6 1954.

After 60 years together they have two daughters, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren - all of them girls.

So what is the secret to their long marriage?

Geoffrey said: “We are still in love after all those years - we have never fallen out. You have got to look after one another.

“We have had strong words between each other at times but never bad words. You don’t get anywhere with falling out.”

He recalled that it snowed on their wedding day: “We hired the Brook Suite Hall for the reception.

“The day after the reception, the weather was so bad they had to bring a sledges to fetch the cake back an what was left over.”

Mr Ward worked at Silverhill Colliery for 42 years, starting in 1944 on the coal face, eventually becoming a deputy there for 25 years.

“It was hard working down the mines in those days, it was a completely different era.”

He retired after taking his redundancy in 1986.

The couple met at the Greyhound pub at Skegby. Mr Ward said: “We had all got together with our friends and we seemed to get along alright - two years later I popped the question. It all went on from there and here we are 60 years later”

Lilian and Geoffrey still enjoy socialising with their friends and the occasional bingo session.

They had a celebration with friends and family at the Travellers Rest at Huthwaite.

“Everybody enjoyed themselves - there must have been more than 30 people there, said Geoffrey.

“They enjoyed it so much they were asking us when we were having the next celebration do. I said when we celebrate in 60 years time.”