Renewed vows after 50 years (From Warrington Guardian)

Renewed vows after 50 years

JOHN and Evelyn Birkenhead celebrated 50 years of marriage by renewing their wedding vows on the QE2.

They joined nine other couples in renewing their vows and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary afterwards with friends at cocktail party on board.

The couple travelled on the ship with friends also originally from Newton-le-Willows, visiting places around Europe including Norway and Amsterdam.

John and Evelyn, from Ashton Road in Newton, met at a dance and married at St Michael's church in Burtonwood after courting for 18 months.

They held their reception at Newton Cricket Club and after 50 years they are still as happy now as when they first met.

The couple have two children, Anne Marie and Karen, and four grandchildren, Adam, Andrew, Rachel and Anna.

During their marriage Evelyn ran a popular women's hairdresser's on Market Street in Earlestown, called Evelyn's, for 40 years before retiring, while John was in the Merchant Navy and worked for Bold power station before it was closed down.

They say the secret to a long and happy marriage is fifty-fifty commitment, to love each other and make each other happy.