WHEN Brian and Valerie Bott went to buy her wedding ring she had no doubt which shop it should come from.

Like countless other Barnsley brides Valerie wanted a ring from Benjamin Harral. She knew that meant she would also be given a wedding present by the well known local jewellers- a bone-handled bread knife.

But where Valerie differs from most of those other brides is - her bread knife is still going strong and has been used every day for the past 54 years.

Despite the years that have elapsed, the engraving can still be seen on Valerie's knife - it reads, "wishing you both every happiness, from Benj Harral Ltd, the jewellers".

Valerie, aged 75, from Lansdowne Crescent, Darton, said: "It cuts bread as well today as the day we first used it and it has been used every day. It is a wonderful thing to have had it so long and for it to be so well used."

It was the news about the death of Benjamin David Harral, aged 79, and a look back at the history of his family's jewellery shop that prompted Valerie to contact The Chronicle.