A COUPLE who came close to tragedy during their early years of their marriage celebrated their diamond wedding with a Christmas family reunion.

Soon after Bill and Gladys Taylor moved to Bishop Auckland in the early 1940s, Bill was struck down by a brain tumour that almost cost him his life.

As they look back on their years together, the couple are still grateful for the skilled surgeons at Newcastle General Hospital who saved Bill, who is now 83.

It had been love at first sight for them both when they met at the Houghton-le-Spring branch of grocer's W Duncan Ltd, one of the forerunners of the Safeway group.

Bill was transferred to Bishop Auckland as branch manager of the company's Newgate Street shop and was hoping to head the town's first self-service store on the site of the old Kings's Theatre when the tumour was diagnosed.

Gladys, now 82, also worked for the company. She said: "It altered our lives completely. Bill was in a wheelchair for a while and couldn't work for five years and it was very difficult. But he gradually got better and we are still here."

Bill was eventually able to return to the grocery business and was well enough to volunteer as a special constable. He was a founder member of Bishop Auckland's table tennis association.

Gladys was an active member of Bishop Auckland Women's Institute