Nearly 60 congratulations cards line the windows of their home in Great Strickland as John and Ida Wilson clink glasses on their lush lawn to toast 60 years together.
It’s been non-stop this summer for the bus and coach drivers who both hung up their keys this year and have had their diamond wedding celebrations on the horizon.
Their big day was Saturday, 10th August 1963.
That was two days after the infamous Great Train Robbery with The Searchers at number one with Sweets for My Sweet, and a national television series called Two of A Kind going down a storm; starring comedy newcomers, Eric Morecambe and his long-suffering sidekick Ernie Wise.
John and Ida, then just 22 and 18, tied the knot at nearby St Barnabas Church in Great Strickland, before a reception at the village hall and a honeymoon in Scarborough.
“I can’t believe it’s 60 years,” said John, now aged 82.
Ida agreed: “It hasn’t felt like 60 years at all.”
“Where have the years gone?” asked John as the couple showed a card of congratulations from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Like any husband and wife the pair admit to “ups and downs” but their advice is to always let bygones be bygones and both agreed that they’ve been “lucky”.
John is the son of the late Violet and Totty Wilson, of Morland; meeting Ida when he started working for her father’s firm, Taylor’s Coaches.
John recalled how, on the morning of his own wedding, he nipped along to one taking place in his home village.
Asked by a member of the congregation what he was doing there when he had a wedding of his own to go to, John quipped that his was off!
The couple initially lived with Ida’s parents, Dick and Hilda Taylor at Yew Tree Cottage, Great Strickland, before moving a few doors down to a home of their own. They’ve been there now for 57 years.
They went on to have four children — Gordon, of Great Strickland; daughter Jayne Croasdale, of Shap, and then twins Paul, of Wetheral, and Mark, of Culgaith.
On Sunday, the pair were back at the village hall for a large party of 40, including friends and relatives, Ida could even remember what was on the menu the first time around — beef and ham butties and trifle.
They have also enjoyed a stay at the North Euston Hotel, Fleetwood; which has a special place in their hearts from regular coach trips to Blackpool to see Daniel O’Donnell, with whom they have struck up a special fundraising friendship.
They have also been treated to meals out at Heather Glen, Ainstable; and also Southport. Despite retiring, they’ll be kept busy as they are grandparents to six with a seventh on the way; and they also have two great-grandchildren.
