A couple who ran Huddersfield pubs have raised a glass to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.
Former Grove and Clough House proprietors, Pat and Brian Hirst, say that their long, happy marriage has served them well after they tied the knot on July 24, 1964.
The pair, who were featured in the Examiner when they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, became drunk on love when they met each other at Greenhead Park when Pat was only 15 and Brian, 18.
Yet as former Milnsbridge resident, Brian, now 82, was sent away with the RAF the following day they were unable to start dating until a chance meeting at the Co-operative dance Hall in New Street three years later.
Pat, who grew up in Wakefield Road in Moldgreen and is now 79, said: “We took to each other straight away but were only able to keep in touch by writing letters for a while.
“Then, one night three years later he walked into the dance hall and we hit it off again and spent the rest of the evening together.”
They dated for around 11 months before tying the knot at Huddersfield Registry Office in front of their family and friends.
Their first home was in High Street in Paddock where they lived for six years and had two daughters, Jacquelin, 58 and Susan, 52 before moving to Dalton.
However, they then decided to go into business together and became landlords of The Grove in Spring Grove Street for 12 years and then Clough House in Rastrick for nine years.
Pat said: “I think that we made a good working team, had a lot of good times together and it kept us close.”
They then moved to Beech Street in Paddock to retire and now have six grandsons called Steven, Joe, Patrick, Liam, Jack and Harry, who helped them celebrate their special day with an event at The Queens Tavern in Imperial Arcade.
Pat, who is also going out for a meal with her family, said: “We still fancy each other and have had a lovely, happy marriage.”
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