Devoted Burnley couple forced apart by pandemic are reunited in time to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary

Mary and Neville Simm were kept apart after Mary was admitted to a nursing home during lockdown after spending three weeks in hospital with an infection.

Strict lockdown measures put in place by the government meant Neville and family members couldn’t visit Mary at the nursing home so they had regular video calls via Zoom to stay in touch.

As Mary, who turned 89 in May, had suffered from delirium following her infection, it was even more important that Neville had regular contact with her. So he made sure she felt loved by taking her lots of treats and home comforts including flowers, chocolates and even her slippers.

And although Mary is now back home she is still recovering and getting back on her feet.

As Covid 19 restrictions are still in place family celebrations for the couple's big day are on hold. But they are looking forward to socially distanced visits from their family including their daughter Jacqueline, son Stephen, granddaughters Natalie, Nicola and Elizabeth, and great grandchild Jasmine Cheema (four). They are also looking forward to the arrival of their second great grandchild in October.

Neville, who will be 89 in October, said: “I’m absolutely delighted Mary is now back home.”

The couple met at the Demdikes Scooter Club in Nelson where they shared their love of scooters. They tiedthe knot at St. Cuthbert’s Church, Burnley on September 10th, 1960.

The couple have had a life full of adventures together, and in their younger years moved to Australia with their two children where they enjoyed two years of life Down Under before returning to the UK.

Mary is from Burnley and Neville is originally from Portsmouth, however when his house was bombed during WW2 he and his family moved to Burnley to be with his father's family.

Mary worked for the former Burnley based garment manufacturer Grenfell and Neville worked at Atkinson's powder coating company in Clitheroe.

Her love of knitting and sewing made Mary the family seamstress while Neville kept an allotment for many years.

In their younger days the couple were regulars at The Paradise Club in Burnley where they met with friends every week.

Now that they are back home together, they are looking forward to catching up on sports when the new football season starts and the simple pleassure of enjoying a cup of tea and a biscuit.