‘Culture’ couple celebrate 60-year marriage

They commemorated their 60th wedding anniversary at St John’s Church, Read, where Mr Jelley is organist, with a special Eucharist conducted by the priest-in-charge, the Rev. Robert Fielding, and attended by 30 people.

Mrs Jelley was presented with a surprise wedding posy of 30 pink roses, a replica of the one she carried in 1955 when they were married at St Mark’s, Mansfield.

Mr Jelley said: “The priest wrote a special service for us, and it was very sensitive and meaningful. We were both delighted.”

The Jelleys, who have lived at Simonstone for more than 40 years since moving from the Midlands, have been active in the cultural scene of Burnley and district for many years. Mr Jelley has been general secretary of Burnley Festival since he retired as a manager at Courtaulds 25 years ago, and has also been chairman and secretary of the Luther Greenwood Memorial Festival at Colne.

Mrs Jelley, who used to run village playgroups and was a nature site guide at the old Padiham Power Station, is entries secretary for speech and drama at Burnley Festival, and speech and drama organiser at the Luther Greenwood Festival.

The couple have two children, Mark and Philippa, and two grandchilodren.

They were continuing their celebrations with a trip to Northampton for a friends’ reunion with four other couples who are approaching their own 60th anniversaries.

They have also organised a lunch at Whalley Abbey for friends and neighbours.