Mayor of Ferryhill, Councillor Curtis Bihari, visited Tony and Valerie Chapman recently as they prepare to celebrate 60 wonderful years of marriage.
The Mayor presented them with gifts from Ferryhill Town Council on behalf of the community.
Valerie was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and Tony with a Ferryhill Town Council engraved whisky tumbler.
The couple, who were married on 30 November 1963 at All Saints Church, both grew up in Ferryhill and met at school.
They started their married life together at Ferryhill Station and moved to their current home in Elm Road in 1969.
Tony started his working life as a plumber at Lazenby’s builders in Ferryhill Station and then became a maintenance plumber at Thorn’s, Spennymoor for 30 years until he retired due to ill health.
Valerie started her working life in the typing pool at Smart & Browns, Spennymoor until their children arrived.
When she returned to work she spent four years as a shop assistant at Bainbridge’s General store on Broom Road, then as a Wages Clerk at Ferryhill Clothing Factory for 15 years. She was then a Domestic at Ferryhill Comprehensive School for five years and finally a Domestic at Feryemount Nursing Home for 18 years before retiring.
Over the years the lovely couple have enjoyed walking in the Lake District and they would enjoy their weekends dancing at local clubs, gardening and quiz nights.
Tony has enjoyed crosswords and Valerie has had a number of hobbies including water coloured painting, sewing, cake decorating, flower arranging, crocheting and keyboard playing.
Tony and Valerie have two daughters, eight grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren – with another due in January – and one great great grandchild.
They will be celebrating their special day with a meal at the Village Inn in Kirk Merrington with family and friends.
Mayor Bihari said: “It is always a pleasure to visit local couples celebrating special anniversaries and to congratulate them on such an achievement.”
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
