RETIRED Yeadon butcher Brian Hardaker, and his wife Elizabeth, a brown belt in judo, have celebrated their Golden Wedding.

Mr Hardaker, 72, and his wife, of Sunnybank Court, were married at Hartshead Moor Church, on Christmas Eve, 1949.

Mr Hardaker was born at Woodside, Horsforth. His family moved to Yeadon where he attended Yeadon South View School until he was 14 and then became an apprentice at Wm Hudson's Butcher's in High Street, Yeadon.

After army service he returned to Wm Hudson's where he worked 33 years. He and his colleague, Ernest Walker bought the business from Mr Hudson, and ran it for a number of years.

Asked what made for a happy marriage, Mr Hardaker said both he and his wife had a good sense of humour. He also said both of them enjoyed travelling around the world. "We have enjoyed dining at foreign restaurants and eating the local food," he said.

Mrs Hardaker was born 70 years ago in Blairgowrie, Scotland. She came to live in Town End Farm, East Carlton, when she was 17 and worked at Copeland's Bakery in High Street for three years. She later worked at Silver Cross pram works in Guiseley until she left in 1970 to join her husband's works.

Amongst her hobbies was judo. She gained a brown belt and later coached. The couple have a married son, Ian, who lives in Bankfield Close, and one grandson, Simon.

Mr and Mrs Hardaker, who celebrated their anniversary with a meal at Peasehall, Rawdon, received many flowers and cards.

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