THE first out-of-hours civil marriage ceremony to be performed in Darlington took place at the weekend, as a couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.
Des Thirtle arranged a surprise wedding vows renewal service for his wife, Betty, at Darlington Golf Club on Saturday night.
The ceremony was the first of its kind to take place out of normal office hours in an unsanctioned building.
Darlington Register Office staff agreed to perform the service as part of a feasibility study being conducted into performing such ceremonies out of office hours.
Mr and Mrs Thirtle, of Woodvale Road, Darlington, married in Amble, Northumberland.
They have spent the past 25 years living in Darlington.
Seventy friends and relatives, including the couple's six daughters, attended the ceremony.
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