JIM and Kathleen Chew believe patience is the key to a happy and successful marriage.

The couple, of Frank Parkinson Court, Guiseley, have just celebrated their Diamond Wedding. Their special day was marked with a message of congratulations from the Queen.

Mr and Mrs Chew were married at St John's Church, Henshaw, Yeadon, on March 23, 1940. "We met in Yeadon. It seems a long time ago," joked Mrs Chew.

"We have a lot of patience with each other and I don't believe there is a marriage where people don't have little fallouts," she said.

Mrs Chew, 81, and husband Jim, 83, enjoyed a celebration with other Frank Parkinson Court residents and then a small family get-together at the weekend.

When the couple met, Mrs Chew lived at Chapel Hill, Yeadon, while her husband lived at Low Mills, Guiseley.

They started married life in Sandy Way, Yeadon, later moving to Queensway, Guiseley. Both enjoyed spells working at Crompton Parkinsons in Guiseley. Mr Chew moved on to Yeadon-based Hepworth and Grandage, where he worked as a production manager at the Shipley works.

Mrs Chew said: "We have been very happy with the good wishes from other residents. The lady from the post office in Towngate, Guiseley, came along with some flowers for us. That was very unexpected."

Mr and Mrs Chew have one married son, Allan, and one married grandson, Steven.

The couple plan to head for Scotland to enjoy a diamond wedding anniversary holiday.

There was also a well-deserved celebration for Ronnie and Lillian Brayshaw last Thursday for they have been married exactly 60 years.

The couple, who have lived in Rawdon all their lives, met at the former Methodist church on Harrogate Road aged 18 and married there two years later. They went on to have two children, Andrea and Harvey, and now have three grandchildren.

Mr Brayshaw, who successfully ran his own cabinet making business for many years, has made several items of furniture for his family since retirement but was forced to stop when he recently began suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. The couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with close family at Apperley Manor in Apperley Bridge, and also with friends at the Aireborough Churches Together Friendship Club.

The secret of such a long marriage, said Lillian was 'just getting on with it'.

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