Special couple are marking 60 years (From Keighley News)

Special couple are marking 60 years

9:00am Friday 31st August 2012 in News By Miran Rahman

An Utley couple who spent 12 years running a Keighley residential special school are celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Kenneth and Brenda Young’s diamond wedding is today.

From 1972 to 1984 they were headmaster and matron of Whinburn, where they taught and looked after children with special educational needs.

Mr Young, 84, said: “We had children there who suffered from many handicaps. It was demanding because it was a 24-hour-a-day job.”

He and his wife, who is 83, are both originally from Bootle in Merseyside, and they were evacuated during the Second World War to escape German bombing raids.

They first met as teenagers in Southport in 1944, so have known each other for 68 years.

Mr Young began his career teaching general subjects in Liverpool before moving into special school education. Mrs Young first started working as a telephone operator for her local exchange.

The couple moved around the country before settling in Keighley in 1972. They have two children – Colin, who lives in Shrewsbury, and Janet, who lives in Eldwick. They also have four granddaughters.

Commenting on the longevity of their relationship, Mr Young said: “We’ve worked as a team and have been very happy through the years. As far as I was always concerned marriage was for life – though there can be extenuating circumstances.

“We’ve had some problems, as people are bound to have during a period of 60 years, but with help and support we’ve managed those problems.”

He and his wife are both keen golfers and have played at Keighley Golf Club for many years. Mrs Young was the club’s lady captain in 1985.

The couple celebrated their anniversary last Sunday at a gathering with friends and family at Hillside Golf Club, near Southport.