Celebration for Christmas couple

Jack and Rene Smith are celebrating 60 years of marriage after meeting in their teens at the Labour Youth Club in Dewsbury.

The young couple enjoyed dancing during their courtship, marrying at St John’s Church in 1953.

Mr Smith, 83, did his national service in the RAF, later working in a bakery and as a painter and decorator. 81-year-old Mrs Smith, nee Briggs, worked as a nurse at Dewsbury General Hospital.

The couple bought their first house in Batley Carr before moving to North Park Street, where they have lived for 40 years.

Their first child, Julie, was born in 1954 and daughters Lynda and Jackie followed. The young family enjoyed holidays in their caravan and later, when the children left home, Mr and Mrs Smith holidayed in Malta, Cypurs and Bulgaria, among others. Grandchildren followed and the family now extends to seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A special Boxing Day meal will see all the family come together to celebrate the wedding of 60 years ago, which Mrs Smith described as “a beautiful day”.

“We can’t believe it’s gone so quickly,” she added. “We’ve been very lucky.”