Celebrating 50 years together

9:50pm Thursday 21st August 2008

CHILDHOOD sweethearts Derek and Marjorie Derbyshire have celebrated 50 years of marriage this month.

After first meeting, aged five, at Castle Hill Infant school, the couple married on August 6, 1958, at St Augustine’s Church, Thicketford Road, followed by a reception at Firwood Hall.

Their relationship blossomed when they were just 15 years old when they walked to and from school together. Their first date was at the Crompton Way cinema to see High Noon.

They would meet after school in Tongue Moor Road, where they now live.

At the same time Marjorie started work at the Eagle Mill and Derek at the Co-op mill.

Derek went on to become a long distance heavy goods driver and the couple are now both retired.

They have three children — Shirley, aged 49, Neil, aged 48 and Derek, aged 43, along with eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with their family at Smithills Coaching House.

Mr and Mrs Derbyshire are travelling to Egypt next month with their youngest son and his partner.

Mrs Derbyshire said: “I think you’ve just got to pull together really and take the rough with the smooth.”