Bidford couple celebrate 50 years of marriage

9:00am Sunday 6th July 2008

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A BIDFORD couple celebrated 50 years of married life together with their golden wedding anniversary yesterday (July 5).

Gordon and Sheila Locke, who have lived in Bidford for 10 years, have just returned from a cruise around the Canary Islands but enjoyed a party with family, friends and neighbours on Thursday (10) to mark the occasion.

Sheila said: "I first met Gordon when he was playing for Evesham United in the 1950s. I didn't like him at first but we met a couple of years later and hit it off.

"We were married in 1958 at All Saints Church, in Evesham.

"I used to work for Allard & Sons builders, who were also based in Evesham, while Gordon was a carpenter for his granddad's firm Charles Locke & Son.

"He later worked for the National House Builder's Council before retiring in 1995."

Now both retired, Gordon, who was born in Bidford in 1930 is president of the Bidford Bowling Club while Sheila, born on Avon Street in 1935, continues to practice her dance moves after the couple took part in, and won, many Latin American style dancing competitions all around the country and across Europe.

They have three children; Julie, 46, Lisa, 40, and Gordon, 38, and one grandchild, Stephanie, 25.

Sheila said: "The secret to a lasting marriage is to be friends first, but you have to work at it too" whereas Gordon added with a smile: "I've learnt when to say yes' and no'."