A COUPLE celebrated their diamond anniversary at the spot where they first met in 1940.

Peter and Betty Shaw returned to Wellington Mills, Oakes, at the exact time they wed 60 years ago.

The Marsh couple met after a German Luftwaffe aircraft dropped a load which damaged the mill’s roof in August 1940.

Mr Shaw, 83, was a joiner at the time and Betty, nee Holt, was a mill girl.

Now, 48 years later and 40 years to the day after they married, the couple returned to the mill, which is now luxury apartments.

Their son, David Shaw, said: “Dad was called to help fix the roof and mum was working there and that’s how they met.

“The rest as they say is history.”

The couple wed on August 21, 1948 and have one son, David, and three grandchildren.

They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the mill, now known as Heritage Lofts, with a lunch at The Bistro which is also on the site of Wellington Mills.

They will also hold a second celebration for family and friends in New Mill.

David added: “They do seem to have had a very happy marriage.

“I never remember them arguing as I was growing up, but I don’t know how they got through 60 years without it,” he joked.

“I think love and mutual understanding has got them to now.

“They are both so pleased to be celebrating their 60th anniversary. The card from The Queen was straight on the mantelpiece.”

Mr Shaw was the woodwork teacher at Colne Valley High School until his retirement.

Mrs Shaw, 81, later went to work for Brook Motors and also worked in the textile industry.