Shildon’s Deputy Mayor recently went along to meet Harold and Olive Walker of Central Parade and present them with a wonderful bouquet of flowers on behalf of the Town Council, in recognition of 70 happy years together.
The couple were married at St. John’s Church on 29th March 1947.
They met at the age of 16 at the Hippodrome Picture House, some 75 years ago.
Harold is a local lad born in Dent Street and his wife Olive was born in St. Helens, but moved to Busty Terrace when she was very young, later moving to The Oval.
Harold, 91, left school and started work with his dad on their coal wagon ‘Walkers’, spending over 50 years delivering, during which time he became one of the leading coal merchants in the town.
Olive, 92, nee Martin, took her first job at the Co-op in Shildon, then worked at Elliott’s Bakery.
She was an Aycliffe Angel during the war and later worked at Paige’s Clothing Factory before leaving to assist Harold in the family business.
After their marriage they lived in Dent Street for five years before moving across the road into Albert Street and finally to their current address in Central Parade in 1973.
The sprightly couple have three daughters, Ann born in 1948, who married Robert Golightly and is the current Mayor of Bishop Auckland; Margaret in 1957, who married Robert Hirst and Beverley in 1966, who married and divorced two Pauls!
They have eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
In earlier times they loved touring in their caravan with the family. One of their best holidays was to the south of France.
Harold played cricket for Shildon Town and also enjoyed a game of golf. He went out every night of the week at 9pm for a tipple, normally to The Red Lion, The Three Tuns or The Albion.
Olive is an excellent dressmaker, actually making her own wedding dress and those of her bridesmaids.
Later, when her daughter Ann got married, Olive did the same for her.
When the family left home Harold and Olive enjoyed their holidays abroad, travelling the world to places including America, Canada, Russia and Thailand.
They celebrated their wonderful occasion with a family get together at their home, their youngest daughter arriving from Doncaster.
They are planning a Caribbean cruise with the family later in the year to celebrate their platinum achievement.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
