Diamond couple’s 60 years

A South Holland couple who met when they were at school have been celebrating 60 years of marriage.
Anthony and Joyce Parker, of Holbeach, were teenagers when they first met and have now achieved their diamond wedding status.
He was at the former boys school in the town and Joyce was at the former girls’ school and the couple have been together ever since their teens.
“We used to go to dances in Holbeach, and to the Youth Centre when we appeared in panto!,” said Mr Parker, who was regularly the dame.
They married in All Saints’ Church in the town 1965 aged 22 and 21 respectively, and went on to have a son, Simon and daughter Jane who still live locally, and there are four grandchildren in the family.
Jane made a celebration cake for the couple which included some of the toppers they had on their original wedding cake.
“We had kept so many, she didn’t have room for all of them,” Mrs Parker said.
“We have arguments like everyone else but then Tony will just shout ‘do you want a cup of tea?’ and that’s it done,” she said.
“Myself and Joyce are like chalk and cheese in many ways, but we always get on with it,” added Mr Parker.
He worked for AW Jackson, a family-run butcher’s shop which is no longer in existence and also for Dickerson’s and George Adams. His wife ran a hairdresser in the town called Kasha Hair Salon. She retired ten years ago after 42 years working in the popular venue.
The couple are both keen gardeners and celebrated their special anniversary with a short break to Bournemouth as they do to mark the occasion every year.
They kept a special card from the King to open on the anniversary itself which was Saturday (22).