Loving pair reach a huge milestone

But Walt proved he was not one to break with formality when he honoured the time-old tradition of asking Mary’s father for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

The pair were married at Warsop Church on 20th March, 1954, three years after they first met.

Eighty-year-old Mary said the big day was cold and drizzly, but a joyous occasion followed by a train journey down to London for their honeymoon - the first time in the big smoke for both she and Walt (83).

“To come from Warsop and go to London for the first time was like, ‘oh my goodness,’” said the mother of two girls.

“We went to a few shows and spent time getting around seeing all the sights.”

When the Cantrills returned home they lived with Walt’s parents in Shirebrook, followed by a few years in a council house before moving into their current home on Greendale Avenue.

After leaving Carter Lane School, Shirebrook, Walt spent much of his working life as a mining surveyor.

Mary, who attended Birklands School, Warsop, finished up working as an office worker in Ollerton.

Mary and Walt celebrated their anniversary with a meal at Forest Lodge, Edwinstowe, followed by an after-party at their daughter’s house with board games and finger food.

Both have been retired since 1986 and now enjoy spending time with their daughters.