Altrincham couples mark combined 135 years of marriage in style

Two couples at an Altrincham care home have celebrated remarkable wedding anniversaries.

Team members and residents at Care UK’s Halecroft Grange, on Hale Road in Hale Barns, joined Mary and Peter Gammon as they celebrated 75 years of marriage and Richard and Christine Watson as they marked 60 years together.

The special events included plenty of balloons, flowers, cards and a cake made by the home’s head chef.

Mary and Peter said: “We loved the whole day, especially being able to celebrate with our children. The cake was amazing; having our wedding picture on the top was a lovely touch.”

Richard and Christine added: “It was a wonderful surprise and we enjoyed celebrating with the other residents.”

Mary, 98 and born in Gateshead, and Peter, 97 and from Newark, first met at the Oxford Galleries dance hall in Newcastle. After courting, the couple married at St Chad's Church in Gateshead.

They moved to Nottingham when Peter began training as a lace draughtsman. Mary worked as a shorthand typist, having trained in secretarial studies at college. Together they raised three children, first welcoming a son and daughter before moving to Ireland, where their youngest son was born.

The couple later returned to Nottingham and have since enjoyed watching their family grow. Today, they welcome the company of six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

When asked for the secret to more than seven decades of marriage, the couple said: “Being supportive.” 

Celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary in the same month were Richard, 82, and Christine, 83, who both grew up in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. 

The couple first met while at neighbouring boys' and girls' schools and would often spend time together before and after lessons.

Recalling their first impressions of each other, Christine said Richard was “alright”, while Richard admitted he “quite fancied” Christine.

The pair quickly bonded over their love of dancing and spending time with friends. They married in Dewsbury before building a life together and raising three children.

Richard trained as an electrical engineer, initially working for BT before moving into training roles within the engineering sector. Christine spent her career teaching primary school children.

When asked their advice for a happy marriage, Richard and Christine said: “Compromise. Love each other always and stay together.”

Suzanna Sumegi, Home Manager at Halecroft Grange, said: “Reaching 75 and 60 years of marriage are extraordinary achievements, and everyone here has enjoyed celebrating these special milestones with the happy couples.

“They never cease to amaze us with their wisdom and stories! Anyone who spends time with these couples can see they still love each other to this day, so it’s a privilege to celebrate their happiness with a special occasion.”

Designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence, Halecroft Grange incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities, including a café, hair and beauty salon and pub. The building has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.