'So we met there but Emily did not like me and I did not think much of her', says Harry who has just celebrated 60 years of happy marriage with her

A COUPLE from High Etherley, who have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary, say they wouldn’t change a thing after more than 60 years together.

Harry and Emily Brown met in 1955 at Bishop Auckland’s Hippodrome theatre, a fortnight after Harry had returned home from the forces.
Mr Brown, 82, who is originally from Witton Park, said: “My brother was courting a girl and he asked would I go to the pictures with him and his girlfriend and her best friend.
“He asked would I go because the girl would be a gooseberry. So we met there but Emily did not like me and I did not think much of her.
“She was not holding my hand and I was not holding hers – put it that way. After that though we got talking a lot and we decided to go from there.”
Within a couple of years, the pair were engaged. They exchanged their wedding vows on March 23, 1957, at St John’s Church, in Escomb, where Mrs Brown was brought up.
He was 22 and she was 19.
For their honeymoon, they spent a couple of days in Stockton with Mrs Brown’s aunt Emily.
On their return home, they moved into their first home together at Quarry Heads before moving to their house in High Etherley, where they have been for the past 53 years.
Mr Brown did a further 21 years’ service as a regular volunteer reservist for the Territorial Army. He later worked as a steel worker and as a forgeman while his wife stayed at home to bring up their family.
Summing up the last 60 years, Mr Brown said: “Like most couples we have had our ups and downs but on the whole it has been enjoyable and loving. If I had to change anything at all it would be my shirt or socks.”
Together they have enjoyed countless holidays across Europe as well as gardening. Mr Brown was also a fan of darts and enjoyed fishing.
Nowadays, the couple enjoy watching TV quizzes and have both just signed up to Facebook to keep in touch with family. The couple have three daughters, Jacqueline, Angela and Cheryl. They also have four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
They were joined by their nearest and dearest for a celebratory lunch on Saturday at the Tindale Crossing pub, near Bishop Auckland. The Queen also acknowledged their anniversary with a special card.
Mrs Brown, 79, said: “I was not expecting that. It was a special delivery.”