SHARING everything with the one you love, that’s the secret to a long and happy marriage according to one Ryedale couple.

John and Marian Hurd, who live in Pickering, celebrate 60 years of marriage tomorrow (Thursday), after marrying just five months after they first met.

The couple met at a barn dance in Farndale, in January 1955, after they were introduced by Marian’s father and married soon after.

John said that the couple were brought up in an era where when you married it was for life and said he was very excited to be celebrating his diamond wedding anniversary.

He said: “You have got to share everything, I think that’s the secret to a long and happy marriage, to understand each other and to share everything.

“We have been very much looking forward to our celebrations.”

The couple, who started their married life in Pickering before moving to Thornton-le-Dale then to Darlington before coming back to Norton and eventually Pickering, celebrated with a big party alongside their friends and family.

Together they have a son, daughter, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Both have been active members of the Ryedale community for many years. John worked at Eden Camp for 13 years before retiring where he was responsible for building many of the original exhibits and was the second person the museum put on its payroll.

He also spent some time working at the Burgess Mill, Thornton-le-Dale where he eventually became the mill manager.

Marian worked as a shop assistant for a number of Ryedale firms, finishing her career at Malton’s Woolworths store where she was the first employee in the North of England to work past the age of 60.

The couple are both members of Pickering Croquet Club where John has won many trophies.

John said they were looking forward to receiving a card from the Queen to mark the occasion and would be celebrating together tomorrow (Thursday) evening.

He said: “We spent so much time thinking about the party that we will probably just enjoy a meal together just the two of us. We have the memories from the party as well and we had such a fantastic night.”