Honesty and trust are the key to a happy marriage as couple celebrate 60 years together

When Patricia and Roy Connelly first set eyes on each other, they were in the queue for the cinema.

A mutual friend introduced the pair and Pat, then 16, couldn’t wait to find out more about 19-year-old Roy.

Fast forward more than six decades and the couple, now 78 and 81, have just celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

And they say they couldn’t be happier.

Pat said: “We got introduced through our friend.

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“I wanted to find out more about Roy so I went to see my friend and he invited to me to a dance at Dewsbury Town Hall, which he was going to with Roy.

“That was it, we just hit it off from there.”

The couple married on June 6, 1956 at St Saviour’s Church in Ravensthorpe, while Roy was on leave from national service.

Police stopped the traffic for Pat and her bridesmaid to cross the road from the Royal Hotel pub, run by her parents.

The pair went on to have three children - Steven, Elaine and Deborah, as well as seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

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Pat, who worked as a book keeper, said: “We spent the first part of our married life in Ravensthorpe.

“Then, when Steven was four, he won a competition on the back of a Sugar Puffs packet.

“He went to London with Roy to take part and came home with winnings of eighty four pounds, seven shillings and sixpence.

“That made the deposit for a new family bungalow in Wilman Post, Ossett.”

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The Connellys, who still live in the town, ran Springfield Boarding Kennels for more than 30 years, before retiring.

Prior to that Roy also worked as a joiner and building contractor.

Over the years, the keen caravanners have travelled all over the world and taken a motor home around the UK.

Roy, who also enjoyed playing golf with Low Laithes club, said: “We decided the secret to our lasting marriage was that we can fall out but we never stop loving each other at all.”

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Pat added: “We totally trust each other in every way and we are always honest.

“That’s why we have stayed so strong.”

The duo celebrated their 60 year anniversary with a family meal on Saturday.

Pat said: “We have a wonderful family. We are very lucky.”

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