A PARTY for 100 people will be thrown on Saturday to honour a special Bradford couple who mark their diamond wedding anniversary this week.

The colour of a diamond anniversary is white. But in the 1960s, it was frowned upon to have children out of wedlock, so a white wedding wasn't on the cards for Sheila and Herbert Belcher, who lived the majority of their married life in Spring Wood Gardens, Bradford.

"They wouldn't let her have a white wedding - she was seven months pregnant when she got married," said the couple's second daughter, Jane.

After they were wed, the couple moved to a one-up, one-down house in Clipstone Street, West Bowling. Their first child was followed by three more, so the family had to move from their tiny home to new social housing in Spring Wood Gardens. 

The couple had three daughters: Ruth, Jane and Maureen, followed by a son, Robert, who sadly died 14 years ago. The couple have three grandchildren and two great grandsons.

Herbert, 82, worked for Hoover fixing appliances, until he was made redundant. He then worked for Wilson’s electricians until he retired. After retirement he continued to enjoy bar work at the Cycling Club in West Bowling, which is the venue for the big anniversary party.

Sheila, 83, was a mill worker, and then she worked at Empire Stores as a cleaner, before she too was made redundant. “Then she looked after everybody’s kids – the house was always full of children,” said her Jane. 

Herbert still lives in the family home, while Sheila, who was diagnosed with dementia nine years ago, is cared for at Mill Lodge care home, where she’s lived for 18 months. The home held a small celebration on Thursday, the wedding anniversary date.

“On Saturday evening we’re having a big family party down at the Cycling Club, to celebrate the anniversary,” said Jane.

Jane expects 100 people at the party, which will be a big boost for her mum. There will be a big buffet and a singer, doing 60s and 70s songs, “and a few bevvies”, said Jane.

“She always loves parties, even with her dementia,” said Jane. “She will recognise people. She won’t know who they are, but she will recognise faces. She will recognise songs. She loved Elvis. She won’t fully understand what’s going on but she will be able to enjoy the atmosphere and the music.

“We didn’t know if it was going to happen with my mum’s health declining. Only a few weeks ago they did tell us to prepare for the end. 

“But we always said she’s not going nowhere until we’ve had this party. She’s been holding on for this party!"