Golden memories for anniversary couple (From The Northern Echo)

Golden memories for anniversary couple

3:52pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Crook & Weardale News

A COUNCIL chairman and his “long-suffering” wife, who helped raise more than £100,000 for local charities, are celebrating 50 years of marriage.

Former Durham County Council chairman and current chairman of Greater Willington Town Council Brian Myers joked he could have served time for two murders in the 50 years he has been married to Alice, while they both agreed that she has tolerated a lot.

The couple met at Sunday school in Sunnybrow when he was 17 and she was 15, and were married two years later.

Councillor Myers, who has been involved in local politics since the Eighties, was a salesman while Mrs Myers was employed at several shops and factories in between raising their two children, Julie and Andrew.

While serving as the first chairman of the Durham County Council unitary authority in 2008, Coun Myers and his wife, who he described as his greatest supporter and unpaid secretary, raised £100,000 for the Limbs For Lyndon Longhorne appeal, Chyrelle Addams Cancer Support and several other charities.

Mrs Myers was first attracted by her husband’s “charm and personality, which he still has today”

while Coun Myers said: “I thought she was a bonny lass.”

Mrs Myers said: “All joking aside, it’s been a wonderful 50 years and we have become so much of a part of each other, like we know what the other one is thinking and finish each other’s sentences.”

Coun Myers will step down from politics next year, and Mrs Myers said: “It’s been an interesting life, but I am looking forward to everything being a bit more peaceful. We wouldn’t change any of it though.”

They will celebrate their anniversary on Saturday with family.