HE has been honoured by the Queen, but Tom Moffat's proudest moment came on Saturday.

Celebrating his golden wedding with wife Nancy, he said his achievements would have been impossible without her by his side.

Married on December 8, 1951 at St Paul's Church, Ryhope, Sunderland, the couple now live on Chester-le-Street's Garden Farm estate.

Tom, 71, worked for the Coal Board before joining Durham's New College as principal lecturer in mining, mechanical and electrical engineering. He set up Casdec Print Centre, in Birtley, and retired as its managing director.

But he is probably best known for his cricket. A senior player for more than 30 years, with Chester-le-Street, South Shields, Wearmouth and Durham City, he also spent seven years in the Durham Coast League. A treasurer of Durham County Cricket Club when it went first class, he is now a director at the Riverside.

He was awarded the MBE for services to small businesses in 1988 and has been chairman of Durham Business Club for more than 20 years.

The couple have a family of three, plus four grandchildren.