Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 15 May 2008

A COUPLE who met at a Cockermouth dance have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

William Sinclair first asked Edna Armstrong to dance in the town’s Public Hall, where the Natwest Bank is now, and 12 months later they were married at the town’s Christ Church, followed by a reception at Armstrong’s cafe.

William, 88, of Evening Hill Drive, said: “It was a hard courtship, I had to bike all of the way from Aspatria to dances.”

William was a farm worker in the Aspatria area when he met Edna, who was a teacher.

Edna taught at schools in Newcastle, Greysouthen, Harrington and taught for 32 years at Chapel Brow, Bridgefoot, with 18 years there as the deputy head.

William also worked at the County Fruit Stores on Station Street for 40 years as a delivery man and then at the Fruit Market in Market Place until he was 74.

After the couple got married, they lived at Sullart Street for 23 years before moving to Evening Hill Drive.

They have two sons, James, 59, and George, 47, daughter-in-law Margaret and two grandchildren, Deborah, 30 and Paul, 27.

Deborah got married last weekend at Ullswater’s Inn on the Lake, so they stayed an extra night at the hotel with family and friends to celebrate their anniversary.

Edna, 86, said: “We have been there for one another through thick and thin, as a shoulder to cry on or to laugh with and we have had some good laughs.”

William said: “But we have had a good row now and again.”