A COUPLE have celebrated 60 years of marriage with a party for friends and family.

Arthur and Theodora (Theo) Cocker of Aiskew, Bedale actually went to the same school in Bolton, Lancashire,  but got together years later when romance blossomed after they met up in Cornwall - where Arthur was in the RAF and Theo, now 82 was job hunting.

They married and moved North, living in many locations across County Durham and North Yorkshire.

Arthur, 81 was at one time Director of Development at the former Peterlee and Aycliffe Development Corporation where he encountered some interesting people including T Dan Smith the disgraced politician and Dennis Stevenson, now Lord Stevenson, former chief executive of failed bank HBOS.

The couple had five children, four sons and a daughter who along with grandchildren and great grandchildren helped them celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary at the Holiday Inn at Scotch corner.

Arthur said he didn’t believe there was a recipe for a happy marriage but added:”Be nice to your wife, that helps. We have devoted a lot of time to each other, we get on well, now there are so many stresses and strains on marriages.

“Don’t hurt your partner is worth remembering and silence is always helpful if there are arguments,” he added.