High Peak couple celebrate 60 wonderful years

Today (Thursday) marks the diamond wedding anniversary of David and Maureen Mickleburgh.

They met at the Bernard Wardle textile plant in Chinley in October 1955, and after a whirlwind romance they were engaged in January 1956 and married on August 4 that same year. Maureen said: “We were right for each other - it was just meant to be.”

David, now 81, was 21-years-old when they married at the methodist church in Higher Buxton, having just finished his national service.

Maureen wore a long pink dress, a veil and headpiece. Her bridesmaids were her sister Shirley and friend Lynda. David’s best man was Peter Yates. Following the wedding, the couple held a reception at The Railway Hotel.

Maureen, now 78, said: “Our honeymoon was a walk around Bakewell Show for the day, and then home again.”

The newlyweds lived with parents before moving into a flat on Dale Road. They have called Knowles Crescent in Fairfield home for 55 years.

After the birth of their first child Jane, who is now 59, Maureen stopped working and son Carl was born a few years later. Now with three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, the couple say they are very blessed.

David joked that the secret to a good marriage is saying ‘yes dear’, but that it was really about give and take.

Maureen added: “You work at being in love and everything works. We are very lucky in love and I think 60 years of marriage is very rare, but clearly we were just meant for each other.”

A blessing of their vows at the methodist church and a party will mark the anniversary.