A COUPLE who met at a theatre have celebrated their diamond wedding.
James and Elsie Draper, of Meltham were married at Otley Register Office.
Mr Draper is originally from Ripon and Mrs Draper was born at Houses Hill, Huddersfield.
They first met during a trip to see an operetta at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, with old school friends.
Before the war Mrs Draper was employed as a clerk in an accountant's office.
During the war she worked as a driver carrying aircraft components for the Lancaster bomber at the AVRO factory in Yeadon. She also worked as a relief ambulance driver.
After raising two daughters and a son, Mrs Draper got a job with the Post Office and spent 20 years as a Post Office/BT telephonist prior to her retirement.
Mr Draper worked as a retail seedsman in Harrogate before the war and later served in the West Yorkshire Regiment.
He was discharged early and spent most of the remaining war years as a progress manager in an aircraft factory. Like his wife, he later joined the Post Office and remained in the postal service for 33 before retiring.
The couple have 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
They were celebrating their anniversary quietly with family members in Huddersfield.
