WHEN Ken Turner got stood up a half century ago, it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
He was supposed to meet his girlfriend at a rock and roll night at the Empress club on Venn Street, but she didn’t turn up.
Later that weekend he got on his scooter and drove to her best friend Dorothy’s house in Dalton to tell her of his disappointment.
Dorothy made him bacon sandwiches, they ended up arranging a date and have never looked back since. Two years later they were married at All Hallows Church, Almondbury, they honeymooned in London and this week celebrated 50 happy years of marriage.
The couple, who live in Wakefield Road, Dalton, already knew each other from the Empress club. Ken, 73, in particular was a keen rock and roll fan.
He said: “I got stood up by her best friend and later arranged to meet Dorothy at Almondbury Bank. It was raining and I didn’t think she would come, but she did.
“We had a night out in Almondbury and have never looked back”.
Dorothy, 71, said: “Ken was quite good looking, he used to trip around the dance floor in his drainpipe trousers and bootlace tie. He had a quiff like Elvis. He didn’t have loads of money, but he was smart.”
The couple worked at a number of jobs over the years and were never out of work. Ken worked as a plumber’s merchant, a driver, a lollipop man and when he retired was a security guard at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court.
Dorothy was a qualified baker and later worked as, among other things, a sewing machinist as well as in a carpet factory, betting shop and biscuit factory.
Like many golden wedding couples, they put the longevity of their marriage down to “give and take.”
They have two children, Paula and Darren, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
They recently celebrated the big event with a meal out with family at Fenay Bridge and are hoping to go on a cruise later this year.
