WHEN sisters Valerie Singleton and Lynn Swan announced their wedding plans more than 50 years ago their father came up with a clever money-saving plan.

His daughters had decided to get married within six months of each other but dad, Stanley Winrow, had another idea.

“Why don’t you just get wed together?” he suggested – and the girls decided it would be a great idea.

So, 50 years ago, Valerie married her sweetheart Graham and Lynn said “I do” to Jim.

A very proud Stanley walked both of his daughters down the aisle at the same time, one on each arm.

Their nine-year-old little sister walked behind them as their joint bridesmaid.

Valerie, aged 71, met 75-year-old Graham on a blind date and Lynn, 69, met Jim, 72, when both were working for Burton’s in Bolton.

The couples spent a lot of time together when they were courting — and have done ever since they married — so it was a perfectly natural thing for them to get married at the same time, explains Valerie.

The sisters lived in Melbourne Road, Daubhill with their dad and mum, Lilian and youngest sister Jill – who was bridesmaid at their wedding.

Valerie said: “I can remember when Jill got married she had a much slicker wedding than we did, as our wedding was on a shoe string.

“I remember my mum cutting me down to size by explaining that our wedding cost her everything she had, every last penny.

“My mum and dad paid for everything and they had very little money at that time.

“By the time my sister got married they could afford more.

“I have to say it was very humbling to hear that.”

Although on a ‘shoe string’ the double wedding, in March 1966 at Melbourne Methodist Church — just up the road from where the family lived and where Valerie ran the Guides — was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

A guard of honour performed by the guides greeted Valerie on the day.

The service was followed by a meal — “I think it was a ham salad,” says Valerie — at Sunnyside Hotel in Adelaide Street, Daubhill.

The sisters hired their wedding dresses from a shop in Liverpool as they wanted to wear the same design and their grooms were in matching suits.

They had two three-tier cakes baked by a friend of their mum.

After the wedding there was no honeymoon and both couples moved in to newly built homes. Lynn lived in a bungalow in Breightmet and Valerie in a town house in Astley Bridge.

There was no money for a honeymoon as they had just bought new homes but they did have some trips out, says Valerie.

Both couples have remained extremely close in the 50 years since they married and both had a daughter first then a son.

There will be double celebrations for the four of them when Lynn and Jim return from visiting family in Australia.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to celebrate together on our wedding anniversary but we will be getting together once they are back home,” explains Valerie.

The sisters’ husbands have always got on well together, from day one.

The foursome have enjoyed nights out, as well as holidays abroad.

The two families are very close. Lynn and Jim were childhood sweethearts at the Burton’s factory in Bolton, which was a major employer in the town and brought many couples together.

Wedding celebrations were very different 50 years ago than they are today and we would love to hear your wedding memories - good and bad.

Have you been married more than 50 years and remember a time when weddings were not the grand affairs they often are today?

It would be fantastic to find the couple married the longest length of time in the Bolton area.

n Email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk or ring 01204 537269 and we will feature your memories of your special day in a future edition of Looking Back.