Olive lived in Shildon, and was 18 when she first met Cresswell Grisdale from West Auckland. After leaving school she took qualifications in shorthand and typing and became secretary to Frank Hiley, Finance Officer for Aycliffe Development Corporation. She was also in Shildon Youth Choir as a soloist and still enjoys singing today.
Cresswell worked at the ticket office at Shildon Station after finishing National Service in the RAF. He was a keen footballer and played for school and local teams. While in RAF he had trials for Blackpool and Preston during Stanley Matthews’ time, but was told he was too short.
The couple met on a night out at the dance at Spennymoor Rink. They stood next to each other at the bus stop while waiting for the Eden bus to go home and got chatting, making a date to go to the Odeon at Bishop Auckland. All through their married life the love of dancing continued, attending local clubs every week.
In 1952 Cresswell gained a permanent post at Heighington Station and Olive moved to County Hall and at 22 became one of four personal assistants. She was PA to the Treasurer and took night classes and became a qualified tailoress. She used this skill to make family clothes.
Cresswell became Relief Clerk based at Middles-brough area covering Cleveland, Co Durham and North Yorks. He bought a Royal Enfield motorbike so as not to go into lodgings.
In 1954 they married at Shildon Methodist Church, living in Byerley Road.
A year later Stephen was born followed by Karen in 1959. In 1965 Cresswell became Clerical Officer at Shildon “Shops” and worked there until 1985 when he took early retirement and was one of last people to work in the offices prior to the closure of the works.
Olive went back to work and became secretary at Aycliffe Hospital, part-time, then got a full time job as school secretary at Shildon County School, later moving to Shildon Sunnydale.
In 1988 they moved into a bungalow in Woodham and during retirement spent winters abroad in Spain and South Africa visiting their son and grandchildren. Unfortunately Olive has developed Alzheimers and after a fall, breaking her hip in July 2012, moved into Bethany House where Cresswell visits every day.
They have five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.On their special day they received a card from the Queen.
Front: Town Mayor Wendy Hillary with Olive and Cresswell, Back: Karen and Christopher Walls, daughter and son-in-law, and Mary McKee, Entertainments Co-ordinator at Bethany House.
