A COUPLE who have dedicated their lives to athletics in Darlington are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

Bert Goodwin, 81, and his wife Gwen, 82, met and became friends in 1939 and were married in 1942 at St John's Church in Darlington before spending their honeymoon in Scotland.

When the war ended, Mr Goodwin worked to re-form the Darlington Harriers and become the president as well as a British Amateur Athletics qualified coach.

He wrote a regular column in the sport section of The Northern Despatch and encouraged many world class athletes to come to the area to compete.

Mrs Goodwin shared her husband's passion for the sport and in 1948 helped to start up the first women's athletics club in Darlington.

In 1972 the couple moved to South Africa where they lived for nine years.

Mr Goodwin retired in 1981 and the couple now enjoy seeing their four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

They celebrated their anniversary last Friday with family and friends.