Diamond wedding delight for Penarth couple! (From Penarth Times)

Diamond wedding delight for Penarth couple!

11:20am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Chris Seal

A PENARTH couple are celebrating 60 years of wedded bliss today (September 20)!

Mary and John Emmons, of Redlands Road, tied the knot on September 20, 1952.

And the pair, who have one daughter, will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary by holding an open house for family and friends today (Thursday).

Mary and John first met in 1948 when they worked at Perris, a grocers, butchers and drapers shop in Cardiff.

"I was in the drapers and he was in the grocers, often driving the boss around," said Mary.

"He walked me home with his bike when we first met.

“When we were courting we would often go to local dance halls in Cardiff - the Regal and City Hall,” she added.

"We also used to go dancing at the Hammersmith Palais in London on our day off and come back on the train ready for work in the morning. We used to get home at 6am and be back in work at 8.30am!"

John, 84, went on to propose in 1951.

"I had just had an operation to remove my appendix and was just coming round when he said we would get married on this date next year," said Mary.

"She nearly jumped out of bed!" added John.

The pair have enjoyed holidays and cruises over the years, traveling in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Greek Islands, and the Canaries Mary, 81, said communication is the secret to a long and happy marriage.

"We never go to bed on an argument," she said.

"We don't really disagree on anything, apart from what wallpaper to have!

"When people get married today they don’t sit down and discuss the future – but you have got to work together to achieve it, and I think that is the key."