Chesterfield childhood sweethearts reveal what has kept them together for 60 years

John and Margaret Wright, of Davian Way, Walton, marked 60 years of marriage on Saturday.

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The pair, who grew up in homes just 400 yards apart and attended school together, met and fell in love with each other from a young age.

Following their wedding at St Lawrence Church in Frodsham, Cheshire, on August Bank Holiday Monday 1960, the bride and groom embarked on a honeymoon in Llandudno.

Sadly, this was interrupted on the second day by the arrival of a telegram at their hotel instructing John – then a national serviceman with the Grenadier Guards – to report back to his unit immediately for active service in Africa.

Six months later, they enjoyed a second honeymoon in sunny Bournemouth – this time without interruption, thankfully.

After his demobilization, John – a qualified electrician by trade – followed in his father’s footsteps and embarked on a police career which saw him serving in Buxton and then Chesterfield.

Margaret worked as a receptionist.

The pair have a son and two grandchildren, who emigrated to Queensland, Australia, 14 years ago.

To celebrate their wedding anniversary, they had hoped to enjoy a meal at their wedding breakfast venue followed by a visit to Australia to see family – but these plans have unfortunately had to be put on hold because of the pandemic.

John attributes their long and happy marriage to his ‘subservience’

Giving her secret to all those decades of wedded bliss, Margaret said: “Tolerance – and a bad memory.”

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