Platinum couple celebrate seven decades of marriage

THREE kisses goodnight is the secret to a long and happy marriage according to a Bolton couple who recently celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary.

Albert and Sheila Mary Brindle were thrown a celebration party at Lever Edge Care Home, in Great Lever, to mark their 70 years as husband and wife.

The pair received an anniversary card from the Queen and enjoyed tea and cake with family and friends on the day.

The pair were married in June 1948 at St Saviours Church, on Deane Road, before the building was demolished.

Albert took a brick from the rubble and buried it in their marital home’s garden as a keep sake and reminder of their wedding day.

Albert was 22 when they married and Sheila, who goes by May, was 21.

He was an apprentice carpenter and a corporal in the army and she worked in a silk mill, with dreams of becoming a physiotherapist.

They have three children, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren, many of whom attended the party at Lever Edge Care Home.

May, now 91, has been receiving respite care at the home since May 2018 and Albert, 92, visits several times a week.

He said: “We always believed ‘never go to bed on an argument’ and we always give three kisses goodnight to each other.”

Karen McMahon, home manager at Lever Edge Care Home, said: “May hasn’t been with us long but when we heard she would be celebrating her platinum wedding anniversary with Albert we had to throw a party.

“They are a wonderful couple and still madly in love after 70 years of marriage. What a fantastic achievement and an inspiration to all of us.”