Melvyn and Winifred celebrate 60 happy years

Melvyn and Winifred Russell were married on August 9, 1958 at St John’s Church in Bradshaw.

They have five children - John, 55, Diane, 54, Paul, 51, Tracey, 48 and David, 47 - and 10 grandchildren.

“We got married at 9am because we were going to the Isle of Wight on our honeymoon so we had to catch a train, but we didn’t get there until midnight,” said Winifred, 81. “It was a hectic day!”

The couple moved to Shelf when they got married and also lived in Brighouse for five years either side of living in Southowram, where they previously owned a local newsagents.

Melvyn, 80, worked as a plumber most of his career, starting as an apprentice in Boothtown and having a stint at Mackintosh’s.

Winifred, 81, left school at 15 to work in a shop before she went into sewing, working for Fax Halls on Horton Street, and then Mackintosh’s.

Melvyn enjoyed playing golf for 20 years at West End Golf Club, and bowls for a club in Boothtown, where he has been a member since 1986.

Winifred enjoys bingo once a week, and is a member of a horticultural society, a ladies club and does indoor curling.

On the secret of their long marriage, Winifred said: “You just have to give and take and let him be right all the time!”

“I think the biggest thing is the family,” said Melvyn. “Having five children you don’t have time to fall out. It’s a full-time job.

“Then when they grew up we started with Westie’s, spanning about 18 years.

“They went everywhere with us. They were our life.

“I’d do it all again though. The kids couldn’t have had a better mother.

“And we’ve not had a minute’s trouble from any of them, they all get on together.”