Golden couple who enjoy just being together
SPENDING time together is the key to a successful marriage according to a Todmorden couple who will be celebrating their golden wedding tomorrow.
Bill Collier, 73, a retired engineer, and Valerie, 68, a retired care assistant, were married at Todmorden Unitarian Church, Honey Hole Road, on March 12, 1960.
Mrs Collier said: "We do everything together. We go on walks, we're both members of the Mytholmroyd Historical Society – that helps the marriage. We're very good friends and don't like spending time apart."
The couple first met in 1958 when Valerie was working at Nanholme Mill, a cotton mill in the town, and Bill was in the RAF.
They have since been blessed with four children Keith, Duncan, Jeanette and Janice, and 10 grandchildren.
The couple, who live on Keats Avenue, say they have had many ups and downs over the years – the lowest point coming 20 years ago when they lost a grandchild and their son Duncan within a matter of months.
However, the couple say any hard times they have suffered in their marriage have only served to bring them closer together.
Mrs Collier said: "The little boy died in the December and Duncan died in the August, just a day before my birthday. We got through it as a family."
Although they have spent half a decade together the couple, who both attended Castle Hill Primary School, warned newlyweds there was no quick-fix solution for a successful marriage.
Mr Collier said: "Every-body's got failings and you've just got to work at it.
"It's just a matter of being able to talk. We have our arguments but we don't dwell on it."
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
