On Wednesday 30 September, Mayor of Ferryhill, Councillor Curtis Bihari visited local couple, Joe and Kath Conroy as they celebrated 65 years of marriage. Councillor Bihari presented Kath with a bouquet of flowers and Joe with a whisky tumbler to celebrate their Blue Sapphire wedding anniversary.
Joseph and Kathleen were married in All Saints Church, Ferryhill on 30 September 1961. Joseph and Kathleen lived opposite each other. Kathleen was friends with Joseph’s sister and would often ask when Joseph would be visiting as he was in the army at the time. Kathleen says it was the uniform she took a fancy to!
Joseph was born in Coundon but moved to Ferryhill at a young age. Kathleen was born in Ferryhill and both have gone on to live most of their lives in Ferryhill, aside from a brief stint in Kent and an even shorter stint in Sunniside.
Kathleen worked in Thorns accounts department, before training as a nurse and working in Dryburn. After having children, Kathleen became a carer and worked at Feryemount. Kathleen is an Honorary Burgess having served 26 years on the Council, as a Ferryhill Town Councillor and a Sedgefield Borough Councillor, she also served as Mayor of Ferryhill in 2001/2002.
Joseph began to train as a priest at Grange Over Sands, but came home before completing the training. He then worked in Bishop Auckland at the Charlie Hall furniture shop before joining the army first in the Boy’s Service followed by the Royal Engineers. After 6 years, he took a job at Thorns as a Fridge Mechanic whilst studying at night to gain qualifications in English and Maths so that he could train to be a teacher. He qualified as a teacher and eventually became head teacher at St Wilfred’s in Bishop Auckland where he remained until his retirement.
Joseph and Kathleen moved into their first home in Ferryhill on Gladstone Terrace which was bought for the princely sum of £1100! They also lived on Parker Terrace and now Broomside.
Joseph has been a lifelong Sunderland Supporter and enjoys watching cricket. Kathleen loves reading, crafting and bingo.
The couple had 4 children (2 girls, 2 boys), 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. They celebrated their special day having a lovely meal surrounded by family.
Mayor of Ferryhill, Councillor Curtis Bihari said “I was very privileged to be there and share some happy memories from Kath’s time on the Council and congratulate them on reaching this milestone together!”
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