Scarborough couple celebrate diamond wedding anniversary

Eddie and Christine Penny, of Scalby, reached the milestone last Thursday and received a letter of congratulations from the Queen.

The couple celebrated on Sunday with a family meal at a hotel with their two sons and grandchildren.

Originally from Leeds, they met when Eddie, who was working as a French polisher, came to polish a table for Christine’s mum.

After courting for four and a half years the pair were married at Colton Chapel in 1961.

Their sons Steven and David were born in 1964 and 1968 and in 1970 the family moved to Scarborough, settling quickly in Cayton where they lived for many years.

The couple both worked at DH Greaves printers in Eastfield until retirement.

Christine said: “We settled in straight away, we’ve loved it and we’ve never regretted moving.”

She said the secret to their long marriage is compromise and that “life is too short to be at odds with one another.”

“When we were married the minister said marriage is like two people in a boat – if one pulls harder it goes round in circles but if you pull together it goes forward.

“You have to think of each other,” she said.

The couple honeymooned in Blackpool and have enjoyed holidays together over the past 60 years.

They’re also grandparents to Adam, Oliver and Jordan.

Christine added: “We’ve had a lovely life together, we’ve lots of happy memories. We feel we’ve been very fortunate and don’t take it for granted.”