A couple’s marriage has proved its weight in gold as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

And Hazel and Gary Cooper, of Lindley, will not just raise a toast to their own happy marriage but that of their son and Gary’s parents, after all three couples tied the knot on the same day.

Hazel, 69, said that it was a complete accident that the three generations, which include her youngest son, Jeremy and his wife Wanna and her late parents-in-law Thomas and Martha Cooper, share the same anniversary.

She said: “It’s just pure coincidence that it’s happened. We certainly never planned it to be a family tradition but its lovely to celebrate on the same day.”

Hazel and Gary, 72, who both lived in north Huddersfield, met in the town centre in the early 1960s through mutual friends.

They dated for a few years before saying ‘I do’ at St Thomas’s Church in Bradley.

“I can’t remember what got us talking to be honest. We obviously just fancied each other!” she smiled.

“I liked dancing and he liked drinking so we worked quite well together.

“He kept a lot of animals in a smallholding which I really liked because I’m a big animal lover.”

Gary and Hazel Cooper
Gary and Hazel Cooper

The couple bought a house together in Alder Street, where they lived for 14 years before moving to their current home.

During this time Gary’s butchery business in Kirkheaton boomed while Hazel enjoyed a career in local government in Huddersfield.

They had two sons together, Gary and Jeremy. Jeremy now lives in the Far East.

But it was Gary who inspired them to take up world travel, after they became intrigued by the postcards he sent from his travels.

Hazel said: “We retired about 15 years ago and just decided that we’d like to see the places we had been sent pictures of for ourselves.

“We’ve been all around the Far East and to India. It’s a great thing to do together when you have the time.”

The pair will make the most of their joint passion to celebrate their golden anniversary later this year when they had to South Africa for a few weeks.