Happy couple enjoy a platinum celebration (From Warrington Guardian)

Happy couple enjoy a platinum celebration

A WINSFORD couple will be shining with delight when they celebrate a truly inspirational wedding anniversary today, Wednesday.

Harold and Lily Walker, of Crook Lane, have been married for 70 years after a chance meeting more than 74 years ago.

Lily, 90, said: "I used to walk to a friend's house in Middlewich every Sunday for tea and once, when I got just by the station, Harold was going for a walk and walked with me to Middlewich.

"I went to my friend's, had tea and when I came back on the bus at night he was waiting for me at the bus stop in Winsford and walked me home - from that night on we started going out with each other."

The pair married four-and-a-half years later on September 7, 1935, when Lily was 20 and Harold 23.

Lily said: "The wedding day was lovely - the sun was shining and it was beautiful.

"We had the reception at home with my grandparents and the following day we had a party as well - we kept it going all weekend."

After the wedding the couple lived at Lily's grandparents' house in Park Avenue for more than 50 years before moving to Crook Lane.

The only time the couple have been apart was during the Second World War when Harold, who used to own James Walker and Sons shoe repair shop, in High Street, served in the Army.

Lily said: "I remember it was pouring with rain when he went back after embarkation leave but we went to wave him off from the station. Cath, our daughter, was only little at the time.

"When we came back we were both crying and a man said 'don't cry Lily, Harold will come back to you'."

She added: "We've had a good life together and still think as much about each other as when we first met."