THEY first met when he was a trolley bus conductor and she a passenger.

Now Birchencliffe couple Kenneth and Eileen Yeadon are celebrating their diamond wedding.

Mr Yeadon said he was working on the buses when he first laid eyes on the former hairdresser.

He said: “I was on a trolley bus on the Outlane route when I first saw this lovely-looking girl at the bus stop.

“I feel in love straight away but she wouldn’t look at me.

“Then one time she jumped off the bus and was walking up Westgate when she spotted me – and we had our first date!”

The couple were married at Bethel Methodist Church in Outlane on October 15, 1949.

Following his work as a trolley bus conductor, Mr Yeadon worked for Manchester-based CIS Insurance for 30 years.

Mrs Yeadon worked as a hairdresser for Shirley’s based at Half Moon Street, then later in catering and textiles.

The couple live in Briarlyn Road, Birchencliffe.

They gave their former home at Cliffe Ash to the Colne Valley Museum.

The couple have one daughter, two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

They celebrated their anniversary with a party with family and friends at Golcar Royal British Legion Club.