A couple who met through their love of operatic theatre and the performing arts have celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Tom and Shirley Mair, of Dalton, have been involved in amateur theatre all their lives.

The couple, originally from Marsden, passed on their passion for music and dance to their children and grandchildren.

Tom, 82, and Shirley, 80, met as teenagers at Marsden Parish Church youth club, marrying at the church on November 5 1955.

Tom left Royds Hall Grammar School aged 16 and was struck down with polio in 1949, causing partial paralysis and leaving him with a permanent limp.

Shirley said the couple had always been able to laugh together and she told how Tom had – literally – fallen for her.

“We were both on a trolley bus and I didn’t know him but knew of him,” said Shirley. “As he went to get off the bus he was showing off, as boys do, and he jumped off, landed and fell.

“I was still on the bus and probably thought: ‘what a plonker’ but he persevered.”

The couple enjoyed tennis, cycling and dancing and eventually got together and married.

“We have always been able to laugh at, and with, eachother and that’s what’s kept us together,” said Shirley.

“If more people were able to do that there would be a lot less heartache in the world.”

The couple have been involved in various operatic groups down the years and remain ‘front of house’ supporters at Longwood Amateur Operatic Society where Tom was chairman and president for many years.

That love of theatre was passed to son Steven and daughter Susan and grandchildren Simon, Anna, Louise, Thomas and Emily.

Anna is a professional dancer who has appeared on stage in the West End.

Susan and husband Tony have moved to Chicago and high school student Emily is performing on stage and TV.

Tom worked in the textile industry all his career and Shirley was a telephonist and receptionist for various companies including Hampshire Opticians in Lockwood for 17 years.

The couple are members of Huddersfield Spiritualist Church where Tom was president for 32 years. He retired from the role last year.