A couple have celebrated 60 years of married life together surrounded by their friends and family.
Jack and Lily Mason celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary with a family meal at the Sparth House Hotel in Clayton-le-Moors and received a card from the Queen to mark the occasion of their special day.
The couple, who have lived at Milnshaw Gardens in Accrington for the last 11 years, first met in 1950 when Jack winked at Lily on her way to work at Warburtons Mill on Victoria Street in Accrington.
Lily was 16 when they started courting and Jack had just come out of the army after completing his national service in the Royal Engineers in the Middle East.
The couple were married at St Anne’s Church on Cobham Road in Accrington on July 16, 1955 and held their reception at the Co-Op Rooms in Oak Street before enjoying a honeymoon in Bournemouth.
Daughter Gillian said: "Myself and all the family feel privileged to be able to celebrate such a lovely occasion with two very special people.
"We could not have asked for better parents to look up to and we appreciate all they have done for us and our families over the years."
Jack, 85, was a builder by trade and worked until he retired at the age of 64 to have a double heart bypass.
Lily, 80, had various jobs including a nursing auxiliary at Rough Lee Maternity Home until she gave up work to look after her first grandchild, eventually looking after all five of her grandchildren, of which she loved every minute.
Jack played football in his younger days and was a keen snooker player for the Poplar WMC and later played crown green bowls for Gatty Park Bowling Club in Accrington.
Lily and Jack have three children, Jacqueline Kirkham, Gillian Bond and Mark Mason, son in laws David and Stuart, five grandchildren Neil, Jennifer, Lynsey, Adrian and Marcus and three great grandchildren Lucie, Joseph and Lois.
They have enjoyed many holidays abroad including Canada, America and visiting their niece and her family in Tossa-de-Mar, Spain regularly.
They celebrated their anniversary with a party buffet for friends and neighbours of Milnshaw Gardens on the Friday and enjoyed a lovely meal with their family at The Sparth House Hotel on the Sunday.
They would like to thank their family and friends for all the lovely cards, gifts and donations to Macmillan Cancer Nurses they received.
The couple even offered their advice for a long and happy marriage.
They said: “Everyone has their ups and downs but you just need to give and take”.
