Diamond couples celebrate 60 years of marriage

Doreen and Paul Bolitho, of Theatre Street in Warwick, have recently returned from a holiday in Cornwall where they visited Tuckingmill Wesleyan church where they were married on August 18 1955.

They celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on Tuesday following a service at Northgate Methodist church.

The couple have active members of the church for many years with Doreen, 85, having once been its organist and Paul, 87, being a former editor of its magazine from 1972 to 2011.

Paul and Doreen met at the Newquay Methodist School of Fellowship’s Easter event in 1952.

Doreen was a student and later worked as a teacher while Paul, a minister’s son, decided to pursue a career as a librarian which lead to them moving to Warwick where he became the town’s librarian in 1970.

He worked at the library for 22 years.

Paul has had three books about history published - including Warwick’s Most Famous Son, about Thomas Oaken.

The couple have a son and a daughter, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Paul said: “I couldn’t have wished for a better wife than Doreen.”

>>> On Thursday Sheila and Ian Holland, of Willow Court, Heathcote, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary by renewing their vows at the Parish church in Sutton Coldfield, where they were married on August 20 1955.

Ian, 84, was a policeman in the Midlands for 30 years, rising to the rank of Inspector.

Sheila, 81, and Ian moved to Kenilworth in 1971 where he set up a driving school after he had left the police.

The couple met at the palace Ballroom in Erdington in 1951.

Ian was doing his national service in the army at the time and had paid a colleague ten shillings so he could take leave that weekend - money he says was ‘well spent’.

The couple, who were Caravan Club members for 40 years, have always been musical having sung with amateur operatic societies.

Ian has also played for the West Midlands Police Brass and Dunchurch Silver Bands and is now a member of the Spa Strummers Ukulele Band.

The couple have two daughters, seven grandchildren and a great grandchild.

Ian said: “We’ve lived well, loved each other very much and laughed a lot.”