An Upper Eden couple are “still smiling” after 60 years of marriage.
Denise and Derek Findley recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.
The couple, originally from Teesside, now live in Winton, near Kirkby Stephen.
They have been in the area since 1986 and are well known in the community.
Denise said: “It’s just great really. We’re very blessed that it’s been so good. We’ve had our ups and our downs like anyone but we’ve got through and we’re still smiling. It’s just nice to have each other.”
Denise, 81, and Derek, 83, met in their late teens and were married on March 18, 1961, at the Stockton Baptist Tabernacle.
“We had a great crowd of over 70 guests. We did it fairly cheap but that sort of thing doesn’t matter to me. It’s not about the money.”
They then took the ferry to Northern Ireland for their honeymoon which was spent along the seafront.
The couple returned regularly with Derek’s best man who worked in the police in Ireland. Their last trip was spent in a bungalow by the beach in 2018.
Anniversary celebrations were dampened slightly due to the pandemic, but the Findleys are hoping to have a big family celebration this summer. The couple have received lots of good wishes from friends and a congratulations card from the Queen.
The pair originally met through the church, where Derek was a lay reader and Denise sang in the choir.
Even before moving the Cumbria, they had toured some of the smaller rural parishes singing and preaching.
Denise is a retired district nurse who also volunteered for Hospice at Home’s bereavement support and for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Derek worked for Visqueen’s plastics department in Stockton before turning his hand to gardening when he moved to Cumbria
They have three children — Andrew, Ruth and Katherine — as well as five grandchildren — Emily, Sam, Beth, Georgia, Rebecca and Joe.
And as of 12 weeks ago they have their first great-grandchild Ava who was born in London and has been unable to meet her great-grandparents due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“She’s gorgeous,” said Denise. “We’ve seen her over video calls, she’s just so cute.”
When asked about the secret of a long and happy marriage she said they’d been very fortunate that they picked the right partner. “We’ve had the same goals and aspirations,” said Denise.
The couple also spoke of the amazing friends they’d made along the way and also the area they call home.
Keen walkers, their daughter Katherine said that Derek would give Wainwright a run for his money with his vast knowledge of the fells.
And that was how the couple spent their special day, walking in the countryside they love.
