A GOLDEN couple have the secret to the long and loving marriage all stitched up.

Pam and Bill Stuchbury welcomed a couple of special visitors to their home in Blackrod on Saturday to help celebrate the grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary.

The Mayor of Bolton Cllr Lynda Byrne and Mayor of Blackrod Cllr Ann Cunliffe, with their consorts John Byrne and Jim Brooks, called at the house with flowers for the happy couple.

Well known as a fundraiser, in return for the gifts Mrs Stuchbury, aged 70, presented their visitors with handmade knitted mini-mayors.

Mr Stuchbury, aged 71, said: “It’s great to celebrate our golden anniversary, it’s an achievement isn’t it!

“We just love each other. I have a few health issues and she puts up with me. She cares and looks after me.

“I think the secret to long marriage is when we have a disagreement she always wins, she’s the boss!”

The couple met while Bill was working with Pam’s bother Ronny at the Metal Box Westhoughton, where he worked from the age of 16.

They came face to face at her brother’s 21st birthday party where he asked her out for the first time.

Just over two years later they married. He added: “It was love at first sight.”

The couple tied the knot at St James’ Church in New Bury in 1966 before moving to Blackrod, then Horwich.

They raised a family in the town they called home for 43 years, and had two children Andrew, who died in 2000, and Paul.

Bill worked at Metal Box until retiring at the age of 55, while Pam took on a number of different jobs, including working as a machinist at Victoria Mill and at a bakery for eight years.

Her last role was at Asda Middlebrook for just over 11 years, retiring in 2009, where she was known to many as Aunty Pam. Pam is also known for her charity knitting efforts — raising money for charity, including the air ambulance, by selling her creations.

Over the years she has helped to raise more than £10,000.

The couple are now enjoying their retirement back in Blackrod where they were joined by family for the celebratory day.

Cllr Cunliffe added: “They are a lovely couple, Pam is always smiling and is well known in her local community as a person always available to help anyone in need.”