Diamond couplecelebrate

This is the secret to a long and loving marriage, according to diamond wedding couple Jesse and Jenny Fletcher.

The North Wingfield pair celebrated 60 years together on Thursday, March 10 - after first meeting at North Wingfield Junior school in 1943.

“We both went to North Wingfield school but started courting seriously when we left,” Jess, aged 82, said.

“She is the most outgoing person you could want to meet.”

The couple, who live on Dark Lane, and have lived in North Wingfield all their lives, met up again at North Wingfield Miners’ Welfare in 1952 where they would go ballroom dancing.

“I taught him how to dance,” Jenny, aged 79 said.

Jesse used to work as a mining engineer for the National Coal Board and Jenny used to work as a shop assistant in Chesterfield.

The couple have one daughter, called Catherine, aged 54, and have lived in North Wingfield all their lives.

“We bought our first house for £960 in 1955, a year before we were married,” Jesse said.

Jesse and Jenny travelled all over the country in their caravan and share similar interests in music and dogs.

The couple celebrated their anniversary at the Casa Hotel with family and friends.

“It is about enjoying the simple things in life,” Jesse said.

Jenny added: “We have always enjoyed doing things together and that is what it is about.”