Diamond duo mark 60 years together

This was 1952 and as soon as he clapped eyes on usherette Jean, Eric asked to take her home and the deal was sealed.

The pair dated for the next two years before marrying at St John’s Church, Mansfield, on 17th July 1954.

Said Jean: “He wanted to take me home, I let him and it went from there.”

“But it was just a good job it was dark,” said Eric.

After their wedding the pair celebrated with a reception at the Bentinck Restaurant, Market Street, Mansfield, then spend a week sightseeing in London.

Said Eric: “We each wore a pair of sandals down that week walking around looking at the sites.

“Buckingham Palace was good and we had nice day out at Ramsgate.”

Upon their return the pair lived with a couple of Jean’s aunts before moving into their first house on Langford Road in 1956.

They finally settled in their current home on Clarendon Road, Ladybrook, in 1971.

After leaving Yorke Street School, Mansfield Woodhouse ,aged 15, Jean was an usherette until motherhood called.

But she returned to work at Woolworths and the Chamber of Commerce before retirement. She now enjoys going out for a drink and a dance.

Eric left Broomhill School, Mansfield, aged 14 and became a van lad at Imperial Laundry before a stint in the Army. He went on to work as a lorry driver before retiring aged 63.

He now enjoys reading and watching Liverpool FC games on TV.

The pair agreed the secret to a good marriage was give and take and not going to bed on an argument.