A COUPLE who met under tragic circumstances when a motorcyclist crashed into a bus they were travelling are today celebrating 65 of married bliss.

On the fateful night, Tommy Crooks, 86, was on his way home in Sand Riggs, Darlington, from a night shift in at the North Road Railway Works, while June, 84, was travelling to work at Alexander tailors in Crossfield Road.

Mr Crooks, now of Bearpark, near Durham, said: “The bus was in West Auckland Road when a lad on a motorbike tried to over take it as it turned into Bates Avenue. He hit the bus and got killed.

“It was terrible. I had seen June before, but had never met her. We got talking to each other after the accident and went our ways.

He added: “I went to the pictures with a mate a week later and when we came out there was jazz band playing in Bondgate and we went in.

“I pointed out June saying “there’s the lass I was telling you about to on the bus” and he said “why don’t you ask her for a dance?

“I did and that was it. We’ve been together ever since.”

Tommy joined the Army aged 21, in June 1955 and on August 27 1955 the couple got married at St Mary’s Church on Cockerton Green.

A plate welder, Tommy went on to work at Condor welding and plating, when the North Road works closed.

In 1964 he became a pub landlord at Masons Arms in Shildon, before going on to work as landlord at New Brancepeth WC Club, Old Shildon WC Club and at East End WC club in Darlington, where he remained for 16 years. He was about to retire when he got the offer to take over the Vulcan in Winlaton, where he workded until 1992. Throughout his time as landlord June worked alongside him as landlady.

Tommy said: "We've had a good life together and enjoyed going cruising and travelling abroad."

The couple have a son Gary, 64, and daughter Sally-Ann, 57. Their son Stuart died tragically in a work accident 15 years ago.