Sixty years of happiness for '˜Diamond' couple

Arnold and Jean Marsden, of Park Avenue, met at a dance in Chipping and were married at St Mary’s RC Church, also in Chipping, in 1958.

After a honeymoon in London they settled into married life at Lower Brennand Farm, Dunsop Bridge, with their children Bernadette, Bart and Arnold all born there.

In August 1967 the farm was devastated by floods and the family reluctantly moved to Clitheroe. Children Michael and Angela soon followed. HGV driver Arnold initially worked for Tarmac before moving to the “cement works” where he remained for 26 years.

Jean stayed at home to look after the children and was subsequently also very involved with all their grandchildren.

Living at Park Avenue for almost 30 years, the couple are active parishioners of St Michael and St John’s RC Church and have a hectic social life belonging to many parish groups and raising funds for charity.

They are proud grandparents to Matthew, Andrew, Tina, Adam, Bronwyn, Georgia, Olivia, Anna, Evie, Callum, Jamie and Joseph and proud great grandparents to Robyn, Lucy and Isaac.

The couple are to celebrate their anniversary on Saturday with a thanksgiving mass at St Michael and St John’s RC Church and a meal at the Calf’s Head, Worston, with their family.

Their recipe for a happy marriage is praying together before going to bed so that they have never gone to bed not speaking to each other.