A COUPLE who spent much of their lives farming celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this week.

Ted and Rhoda Shuttleworth, of Ireby Road, Burton-in-Lonsdale, who are now aged 92 and 90, were married on August 19 1933 at St John's Church, Low Bentham.

They farmed Mr Shuttleworth's family farm at Hill Top, Low Bentham, until they retired in 1970.

Mrs Shuttleworth was also from Low Bentham, and before she was married worked as a confectioner at Reeds in Station Road, High Bentham.

The couple actually met at the local dance.

"We used to be keen dancers. We went to dances all over, at Low Bentham, High Bentham, Wennington, Morecamble, even the Tower Ballroom at Blackpool," recalled Mrs Shuttleworth.

Life on their farm, raising poultry, sheep and cattle, was hard initially. There was no electricity, and horse and manpower were paramount in the days before tractors and machinery took over.

The couple have one son, Reg, three grandchildren and one great granddaughter, who all live away from Craven, but Mr and Mrs Shuttleworth will see most of their family over their 65th wedding anniversary celebrations.

Mrs Shuttleworth enjoys music and sang with the church choir in Low Bentham for many years, eventually giving up when she was about 70.

She is a former member of the Mothers' Union, and is a keen gardener. Her husband used to enjoy gardening until health problems forced him to give up. The couple have also enjoyed foreign holidays since leaving the farm with favourite destinations being Austria and Switzerland.

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