A DIAMOND wedding couple who met at a Parr Hall dance said having ‘brilliant’ children is their secret to a happy marriage.

Terry and Jeanne Woollacott from Thelwall met at a Saturday night dance when Jeanne, who is from Howley, was just 18 years old.

She said: “He asked me to dance, he was so tall and handsome. That was in 1954 and we’ve been together ever since.

“He was a baker when we met and he used to send me cakes to the telephone exchange where I worked.”

Jeanne worked for British Telecom connecting calls and Terry often took her dancing, to the cinema and to a cocktail bar where she remembers tasting her first drink, a Babycham.

The couple married at Warrington Parish Church, now St Elphin’s, on August 25 1956 and went on a honeymoon to Ireland.

Jeanne, now 81, said: “Terry went on to work for 23 years in the ambulance service. He delivered twin babies and brought people back to life.

“He liked playing lawn bowls and once his friend dropped dead on the bowling green and he rushed on and gave him CPR – he saved his life.”

The pair have three sons and a daughter as well as 10 grandchildren and a seven-month-old great grandson.

A big party of 24 family members are looking forward to celebrating the special day with Terry and Jeanne at the Little Manor in Thelwall.

Jeanne said they always enjoyed travelling together in Australia and Europe and have taken several cruise holidays.

She said: “The secret to a happy marriage is give and take. He’s still such a nice and calm man. We’ve been here since 1959 and even if we won the lottery we wouldn’t move.

“We have been happy together for 60 years and we have been so lucky with the children we have. Children make a marriage.”