A FORMER Mayor of Kirklees and her husband are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

Former Liberal Democrat councillor Ann Denham and husband John were married on January 12 1963, in the depths of one of the worst winters in living memory.

Ann, 71, and John 74, of Lumb Lane, Almondbury, tied the knot at South Crosland Church.

Ann, who served as mayor of the district in 2000-01, said her abiding memory of her wedding day was the snow! “The winter of 1962-63 was terrible and all our pictures of the day have snow on them.

“One of our guests came up from London and her train was delayed and she didn’t arrive until 2.30am on the morning of the wedding.”

The weather wasn’t so bad as to put the wedding in jeopardy, however, and the couple were able to drive to the Lake District for their honeymoon.

At the time Netherton-born Ann was working as a teacher in London and John was a manager for Post Office Counters.

The couple met at a Huddersfield College barn dance. Ann was just 16 at the time. John, originally from Birkby, had to leave for National Service just a couple of weeks later and served for 15 months in Cyprus. The couple married five years later.

After their marriage they lived in Birmingham, where John worked, eventually returning to Yorkshire in 1989.

“We were looking for somewhere in Leeds near where he worked,” said Ann. “But we found this lovely house near Castle Hill and we’ve been here ever since.”

Ann had given up teaching and was a volunteer for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau when they returned to Huddersfield.

She was elected to represent Almondbury on Kirklees Council in 1992 and served until her retirement in May last year. She was Mayor in 2000-01 with John as her consort.

“Being mayor was a wonderful experience,” said Ann. “It was an honour to represent the people.”

When the Lib Dems ran the council, Ann also served on the cabinet as member for highways and the environment.

John retired in 1995 and was chairman of Kirkwood Hospice and served as president of Huddersfield Choral Society.

John has retired as hospice chairman but remains on the committee. He is also involved with the Campaign for Rural England, and Huddersfield Rotary Club along with his wife.

Ann has gone on to set up the Friends of Tolson Museum and Ravensknowle Park, which is now her passion.

The couple, who have a son Stephen, 49, and daughters Clare, 46, and Jill, 45, and grandchildren Dominic, 25, Catherine, 11, and Cameron, 10, celebrated their golden wedding with a big weekend party.