A pair of keen sequence dancers have been married for exactly 60 years as of today.
Harry and Florence Greenwood first met at a dance event in Prince Smith’s canteen, in Keighley, in 1945.
They got married seven years later at St Peter’s Church, in South Street, then spent three days in Blackpool for their honeymoon.
Mr Greenwood, 81, of Merlin Court, Keighley, said: “The time just seems to have rolled by. We’ve had our ups and downs, the same as everybody else.”
Mrs Greenwood will be 80 on March 28, and now lives in Herncliffe Nursing Home, due to ill health.
The couple, who have always lived locally, have two sons – Stanley and Les – and a daughter, Sheila. They also have seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Mrs Greenwood was employed as a twister, spinner and rover in mills in Keighley for 18 years – starting work when she was 14.
She and her husband first lived in Beechcliffe, then in Gladstone Street, off Oakworth Road, and later in Oakworth. They bought their first new house in Hainworth Wood Road in 1966 for £2,350.
Mr Greenwood said he spent his 18 months of National Service in the Royal Air Force.
He was based in Wiltshire, where he had the job of ordering spare parts for aircraft. He has also worked in the Co-op’s grocery for 25 years, including six years as a manager.
He said in addition to his dancing he played the piano, organ and accordion in pubs and clubs for many years, and even appeared on the popular television show Opportunity Knocks, where he played the piano alongside his brothers.
He said his wife had enjoyed singing and playing bingo. He added he experienced his own gambling success on his wedding day when he won the impressive sum of £71 15 shillings on the pools.
He said this was no one-off as he picked up £89 in a lucky draw two years later.
The couple will mark their diamond wedding anniversary at a family gathering in Herncliffe this Saturday.
The event will double as a celebration of Mrs Greenwood’s 80th birthday.
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