MAKING it to a Golden Wedding Anniversary is quite an achievement, but when it's a double Golden Anniversary, then it's really time to celebrate!

Back in 1947, with the Second World War still fresh in people's minds and rationing still in full force, weddings could be expensive affairs.

So sisters Eva and Irene decided to double up, and have a joint ceremony at St Barnabus' Church on West Street, Crewe.

Half a century later, the two marriages are still going strong - and both couples still live in the area - Eva and Arthur Moseley on Main Road, Shavington, and Irene and Ken Hughes on Remer Street, Crewe.

Eva said: "We were from a family of 10 children - three boys and seven girls - so I think our parents thought they had better save on the cost of marriages wherever they could!

"I met Ken when he came out of the navy in 1946, and we decided to get married a year later. Irene had known Ken since she was 14, so we decided to get married together and get it over and done with!"

After 100 years of marriage between them, both couples had five children, two boys and three girls each, so the special family get together organised for the weekend was a huge affair, with nearly 100 family members!

"We used the anniversary as an excuse for a family get together - although most of us still live in the Crewe area, people came from Scotland, and even one from Canada," Eva said.

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