Mayor of Ferryhill, Councillor Carole Atkinson visited Raymond and Cath Smailes last week as they celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary, where she presented Cath with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and Raymond with a Ferryhill Town Council engraved whisky tumbler.
The couple were married at St Aiden’s Church, Chilton on 27 June 1964. Cath was born in East Howle and Ray belonged to Spennymoor. They started married life in Ferryhill before moving to West Cornforth for a year, but soon returned to Ferryhill where they have lived ever since.
Raymond worked for Gray’s Pop and then moved on to HGV truck driving until he retired from Stan Robinson. Cath worked at the clothing factory in Ferryhill.
Raymond enjoyed DIY as and when he could and Cath enjoys baking and is great on a sewing machine, putting her hands to many things. The couple also enjoy caravanning together on a weekend.
Ray and Cath have three children, Darren, Karen and Martin as well as three grandchildren, Arron, Rachael and Reece and two amazing great grandchildren in Keaton and Oliver.
They celebrated their special anniversary with a get together with family and friends in the Surtees Arms.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
