"If you find the right one never let them go!" - secret to well-known Derbyshire couple's long marriage

Geoff and Julia Haines celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the Old Vicarage care home in Clay Cross.

They met through Geoff’s sister and fell in love almost instantly.

As Geoff 75, said with a little chuckle: “She just couldn’t resist me.”

“We got married on a Monday,” Julia, 77, added. “As hairdressers didn’t open on Mondays Geoff did my hair for the wedding but didn’t leave any time to do his own.”

Julia even made her own wedding dress with the help of her mother who was a tailor to Queen Elizabeth’s lady in waiting.

They honeymooned in the Lake District and they later welcomed their three children, Chris in 1973, Ben in 1975 and Jess in 1979.

Julia worked as a teacher at Leabrooks School and Geoff owned the famous ‘Geoff’s Hair’ in Alfreton for the next 25 years.

Fellow residents and the team joined in their celebration with a party on 5 April.

When asked what advice they would give to others, Geoff said: “If you find the right one never let them go! Fifty years later and I couldn’t be without her.”

Karen Middleton, Lifestyle and Dementia Manager at the home added: “I think the secrets to their long marriage are having a sense of humour, patience, understanding, loyalty and realising that the small things are actually the big things in life. It’s clear just watching them that true love really does exist and it’s right here at the Old Vicarage.”