A COUPLE who first met over a bag of chips during a walk along the seafront celebrated their golden wedding yesterday (July 28).

Pensioners Jim and Doreen Heels of Lime Grove, Bishop Auckland, met in Redcar in 1961 when Jim was working at the town’s steelworks.

Shop worker, Mrs Heels was on holiday with her friend when Jim, now 76, saw her promenading by the sea and introduced himself by cheekily taking one of her chips.

A holiday romance blossomed, but Mrs Heels thought nothing would come of it once they both went home to Bishop Auckland.

But shortly afterwards, the 18 year-old opened her door to find the 22 year-old steel-worker - and it wasn’t long before he moved to his own house in South Church to be nearer to her.

A four year courtship followed.

Mrs Heels, 72, said: “We were engaged for four years. We wanted to find the right time and we also had to think about the expense, of course. We wanted a white wedding and a honeymoon.”

Once they had saved up enough, they married on Wednesday, July 28, 1965 at Saint Andrew’s Church in South Church, Bishop Auckland, choosing a mid-week ceremony to allow her work-friends from Doggart’s department store to celebrate with them.

Mrs Heels said: “Love, a bit of give and take and looking after each other - that’s the way to stay together.”