A COUPLE who married after just six months recreated their special day more than six decades later as they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
Leslie and Judith Turner met in the Ritz cinema.
Despite their brief courtship, the couple were married on November 24, 1956, in Silkstone Church and have been inseparable for 65 years.
They received a special blessing on their anniversary by recently retired vicar, Rev Maureen Browell.
“We met because I had gone to the cinema with my friend and there was a spare set next to me, and along came Leslie who sat in the seat, and we got talking and then that was it really,” said Judith, 83, from Martin Croft, Silkstone.
“He used to cycle to see me three times per week, but back then he lived in Silkstone and I lived in Elsecar so it was a fair way.
“We had the blessing ceremony in the same church, on the same day, and the same time we got married in 1956 - it was really special because we got to share it with our family.”
Together the couple have a large family with three children, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
They said they were ‘blessed’ to have their family around them for their celebrations - especially as they almost didn’t happen.
“A couple of years ago, I was really ill,” said Judith. “Everyone at the hospital and my family were amazing, but I was looking forward to our 65th wedding anniversary - that’s what got me through.
“There was a point where I didn’t know if I would be here to see it but being able to celebrate with my family around me was magical.”
Now, the couple are looking forward to their 70th anniversary and say the secret to a long marriage is never going to bed angry.
“Just say what you need to say, talk it out and then make up,” said Leslie, 86.
“There’s no point holding grudges against each other, you’re a team and you should be able to have little disagreements but make up - don’t go to bed on an argument because it will only make it worse.”
