Town Mayor Barbara Clare called to congratulate Ken and Val Chester on their Diamond Wedding anniversary on Thursday 20th March.
The couple, who live at St. Oswalds Walk, moved to Newton Aycliffe from Birmingham where they lived in the same street. There was a gang of young people who mixed and eventually Ken and Val paired off and had their first date at the local Cinema, seated on the back row!
Ken a keen Birmingham City fan played football himself in an amateur league. He was trained as a Sheet Metal Worker and Val worked in a bakery supplying local factory canteens. They were 20 years old when they became engaged and were married a year later at St. Andrew’s Church in the city centre.
A Job as foreman at Bakelite brought the couple to Aycliffe; Ken worked for them for 16 years while Val was a cook at Woodham Comprehensive for 19 years.
Ken is a member of the Big Club and the Navy Club where he plays darts and dominoes. Val likes gardening and enjoys the art of decoupage.
They have a son Terry and a daughter Gail, The family all live in the town and there are two grandchildren. They all got together to celebrate this special occasion for Dinner at the Bay Horse, Middridge.
