A COUPLE have celebrated their diamond wedding at the same venue as their marriage 60 years earlier.

Margaret and Fred Bradshaw, from Nunnington, were married on September 24, 1955, at All Saints Church, Hovingham, and followed it with a lunchtime reception for 50 at the Worsley Arms, in Hovingham, costing the princely sum of £55.

The couple returned to the venue to celebrate their anniversary - although admitted it had cost them slightly more this time around.

Margaret, 82, worked for many years as a local district nurse, although she originally comes from Dorset where many of her family still live.

Fred, who will turn 90 on Christmas Day, worked all his life on the family farm in Hovingham.

The couple received a personally-signed card from the Queen wishing them well for the occasion.

When they married, they had two page boys – David Bishop, the bride’s brother, and Nick Bradshaw, the groom’s nephew.

Although David could not attend the anniversary, Nick, who was three at the time, was there to help celebrate again. Sadly, Margaret’s bridesmaid, her sister Phyllis, and the best man, Peter Skelton, both died some years ago.

Nick said: “Being only three, I don’t really remember much about the actual day itself, so it’s great to be able to come back today and create new memories of that lovely occasion.”

The couple were joined by their two sons, Kevin and Duncan and their families, as well as relatives who had travelled from Dorset and elsewhere for the day. They have four grandchildren, Eleanor, 21, Anna, 20, Angus, 18, and Isobel, 14.

Margaret said: “It was a very special occasion, to celebrate on the same day in the same hotel with so many of our friends and family."