A gem of a marriage

From the archive, first published Monday 26th Mar 2007.

Diamond couple Doreen and Geoffrey Baxter celebrated 60 years of marriage with a card from The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.

They were married in St Stephen's Church, West Bowling, Bradford, in the same year as the royal couple.

The Harden couple, who are both aged 81, met at a ballroom dance at what used to be Ashworth's in Manchester Road, Bradford, in 1943, and were wed four years later.

Mr Baxter said: "I suppose it was love at first sight. We are both compatible and we don't argue. Even when Doreen's wrong, I say yes'! She is very peaceful and we are still in love with each other after all these years. I don't know what I would do without her."

Mr Baxter, who ran Baxter's of Bradford in Bankfoot before he retired, added: "It helps that we have such a wonderful family. We have a large family and they are all very supportive and we are very proud of them."

The former business boss spent his 80th birthday in hospital last year recovering from two squashed vertebrae in his neck so the couple held two parties this year to celebrate their anniversary and to thank their friends and family for their help throughout Mr Baxter's four months hospital stay.

Mrs Baxter said: "We must be on the same wave length. We don't like arguments and we are both easy going. I can't imagine life without Geoffrey."

The couple's daughter Pat Miller, said her parents are an inspiration to everyone including their three grandchildren Paul, Katharine and Richard.

Mrs Miller, 57, said: "My parents are a perfect example for marriage. They are marvellous people and they keep the family together. They are a good example and an inspiration for us all."