Diamond couple celebrate

So he was pleased as punch that paying a little extra for upstairs seating at Rock Cinema sealed the deal and Jean gave him the thumbs up.

Now the diamond duo, of Gordon Avenue, have just celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Arthur and Jean tied the knot on a breezy day 18 months later at St Lawrence’s Church, Skerry Hill, on 22nd August, 1953.

The happy couple hopped on a train the same evening for a week’s honeymoon in Ilfracombe, Devon.

Retired engineer Arthur (82), said: “It was lovely 
because during the war 
you could not go to the 
beach.

“We had been to Blackpool before but this was special - it was so lovely then.

“We went on a paddle steamer to Lundy Island.

“It has stuck in my memory ever since.”

After their honeymoon the Greaves lived with Jean’s mother on Gordon Avenue before buying their first home where they lived for four years before moving into their current house on the same 
street.

Ravensdale lad Arthur left High Oakham Central School aged 14 and went to work as an engineer at Maun Industries, Moor Lane, where he worked right up until retirement, aged 65.

Jean (82) never strayed far from home, having been raised on Gordon Avenue.

She left school aged 14 and worked at Foister, Clay and Ward hosiery, Metal Box, Mansfield Shoe Company, and Meridian hosiery before finishing work aged 34 to have children.

Said Arthur: “We had been trying since we married at 22 but could not have a child, then Jean eventually got pregnant at 34.

The couple now have two children - Adrian (47) and Tracey (42).

Jean, nee Atkins, did go back again to work at Meridian for a few years before retiring aged 54.

She has sadly developed Alzheimer’s disease since and now lives at Parkside Nursing Home, Forest Town, 
where Arthur visits her ever day.

He said: “I really miss 
her.”

He said the secret to his and Jean’s happy years together was making allowances for each other.

“Everybody has bother in their marriage but you have to forgive each other and not be too judgemental,” he 
added.