CHILDHOOD sweethearts who met at a youth club yesterday celebrated half a century of married life.
Gordon and Betty Wilkinson met at Mount Pleasant Youth Club, in Spennymoor, and became dance partners in ballroom competitions across the region during their teenage years.
In 1957, they waltzed up the aisle at St Charles Church, in Tudhoe Village.
On their golden wedding anniversary yesterday, the couple, from Whitworth Park, in Spennymoor, looked back on 50 happy years together.
Mr Wilkinson, 71, worked for the National Coal Board then Black and Decker and his wife, 69, did clerical work for Smart and Brown and British Telecom.
They have two daughters, Lynn, 46, and Karen, 39.
The couple still enjoy dancing, though Mr Wilkinson has recently been sidelined while he waits for a knee operation.
They go to Spennymoor Leisure Centre three times a week to swim or use the gym and Mr Wilkinson enjoys bowls.
Mrs Wilkinson said: "We enjoy each other's company, we love our family, enjoy holidays and our commitment to one another remains. We've had a lot of happy years together and work at it."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article