THERE'S a triple celebration for a Weaverham couple this week.

For Sybil Healy celebrated her 82nd birthday on Tuesday and her husband Thomas celebrates his 88th birthday on Thursday - the couple's diamond wedding anniversary.

"Getting married was the best birthday present I ever had," said Thomas.

The couple, of Owley Wood Road, met at a dance, which took place at Winnington Park Recreation Club.

Thomas had been sent over to ICI at Northwich, with the Royal Artillery.

Some 14 months later they married at St Wilfrid's RC Church in Northwich.

Snow

"I said I'd never get married until the war was over - but I changed my mind," said Thomas, who had great difficulty getting to Northwich from his army base in Nefyn, North Wales because of the snow.

"I'd never seen so much snow," he added.

After they married they lived with Sybil's parents in David Street in Castle before moving - next door. They moved to their present address in 1960.

Thomas spent his working life at ICI in power services and Sybil worked in the ICI polythene plant.

The couple have three children, John, Kevin and Paul, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

They are celebrating their big day with a lunch at Winnington Hall with family and a few friends.

Sybil said: "We work together. Like everyone else we have our ups and downs but we talk our way through it." vkandel@giardiangrp.co.uk