Telford couple’s big diamond day

The Queen has not been the only one marking a diamond celebration this year with a couple from Telford celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Maurice and Rita Parkinson, both 82, from Ketley Bank, marked their wedding anniversary on June 28 by staying at the same hotel they enjoyed their honeymoon at in back in 1952.

The pair packed their suitcases and headed for a trip down memory lane with a stay at the Mayfair Guest House in Llandudno.

Mr Parkinson said the romance all started more than 60 years ago in Durham.

“We met in Darlington and we both worked at the same place in an engineering firm. It was an immediate rapport that we struck up and we agreed we were going to get married but we waited for a year before we got engaged and then waited another year before we got married.”

After working for the coal board, Mr Parkinson became a teacher for 25 years before finishing at Wolverhampton Polytechnic. The couple then retired and lived on the south coast before moving to Shropshire to be closer to their family.

The most exciting part of the celebrations came when they received a Royal card.

“We had a card from the Queen and it took pride of place with all of the other cards and it was a very pleasant surprise.”

By Jason Lavan