Today marks 50 years of marriage for Malcolm and Joyce McHolm — making them the fourth generation of the McHolm family to reach the landmark golden wedding anniversary.
Malcolm, 74, and Joyce, 70, have lived at Maple Drive, in Penrith, for the past three years but are well-known faces in Langwathby where they lived for many years.
Malcolm spent over 33 years working as a postman in Penrith and the surrounding area and Joyce was a midday supervisor at Langwathby Primary School for more than 20 years.
Born and bred in Penrith, Malcolm’s parents were George and Lucy McHolm and he has one brother, Ian McHolm, who lives in Askham.
He attended Robinsons Infant School followed by the County Boys and Tynefield School before taking his first job as a mechanic in Langwathby.
Originally from Cliburn, Joyce’s parents were Jack and Freda Nicholson and her brother David now lives in Yorkshire.
She was educated at Cliburn Primary School and Appleby Grammar School and had a variety of jobs working at the Tudor bakery and Birketts in Penrith, later becoming a midday supervisor at Langwathby School and going to work at The Roundthorn Hotel, Penrith.
The couple first met when they were introduced by friends at a village dance. Five years later they were married at St Cuthbert’s Church, in Cliburn, on Saturday, 18th July, 1970, after Malcolm had proposed to Joyce under the floodlit fountain at London’s Trafalgar Square.
At the wedding Joyce was given away by her father and had as her sister-in-law Noreen Nicholson as matron of honour. Bridesmaids were her cousin Barbara Burrell, and niece Elaine Nicholson.
Malcolm chose his brother Ian to be his best man and ushers were David Johnson, Arthur Toppin and David Williams.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Cliburn village hall and they later caught a plane from Blackpool to the Isle of Man where they enjoyed their honeymoon.
They made their first home together at Low House, Langwathby, and in 1971 their eldest daughter Nicola was born.
She now lives in Penrith with her husband Barry Munro and their daughter Caitlin, eight.
In 1973 their second daughter Karen was born. She is married to Keith and they live in Penrith with their son Finley, 10.
In 1974 Malcolm began working as a postman and during their lives in the village they would move to live at Penburn and then at The Meadows before moving to Penrith three years ago.
They had been set to celebrate their anniversary in style with a family holiday to Dubai in May.
This was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent plans for a garden party have also been put on hold due to ongoing restrictions on the number of guests allowed.
Instead Malcolm and Joyce will be celebrating with a family meal at The Lyzzick Hall Hotel, Keswick.
Looking back on their marriage the couple agreed that “give and take” was the secret to staying together and simply “love”.
