Couple celebrate golden milestone

GOLDEN . . . Luton and Yvonne ready to celebrate

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A GOLDEN couple who met each other at school will celebrate 50 years of marriage on Saturday.

Luton (73) and Yvonne (71) Edghill, of Scholes Street, Chadderton, will hold a party for family and friends to mark their golden anniversary at the Cotton Rooms tomorrow.

The couple first met at school in Barbados and travelled to England separately to different areas before becoming re-united with each other and then tying the knot two years later in 1966.

Luton arrived before Yvonne to Bolton where he attended the technical college before working in the building trade. Yvonne followed shortly after and made her home in Greenacres, Oldham.

As well as working in the building trade, Luton sat as a magistrate on the Oldham bench for 22 years from 1992 while Yvonne worked at the Royal Oldham Hospital. The couple have three sons, Richard (49) and twins Trevor and Wayne (44).

Luton, who organised Saturday's party with the desire to make it perfect for Yvonne, said that although he was unsure of the secret to a happy marriage, adaptability and hard work helped.

He said: "I don't know what the secret is, put it this way we're still working on it because life changes consistently and changes from day to day.

"We are all thankful because I have seen so much pain over the years, I would like to think that we are blessed. The most precious blessing is that we are still here."

He said: "I'm not sure of the secret but if you can fall in love over and over again with the same person then that is a great help.

'Precious'

"I think it is good when you know somebody for a long time and I would describe her as the most precious treasure I have in this world.

"When I first saw her I thought she had the most beautiful smile and all these years later I can still say it."

He added: "She's always considered me the stronger out of the two but she gives me the strength that I need. I have her undying love and she is patient and understanding.

"I am very fortunate."