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A couple from Preston are celebrating their platinum wedding anniversary.
Alan Rhodes and Greta Sproson got married on 10th July 1954 at Christ Church Preston, Fulwood, meaning they have now been a married couple for 70 years.
Alan is now 93-years-old while Greta is 90-years-old.
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The pair first met at a youth group in Preston in 1949 and were in a relationship for a few years before Alan went into national service, joining the RAF for two years.
After leaving the RAF, Alan started work at Preston Guardian and Lancashire Evening Post in the Stereotype department and the young couple got engaged.
The couple tied the knot at Christ Church and the bride was given away by her brother Jack Sproson and the best man was the grooms brother Robert (Bobby) Rhodes and bridesmaid Miss Sylvia Liptrot.
The reception was held at the White Bull at Alston with a wedding breakfast of ham salad costing 7 shilling and a sixpence as well as a three tier wedding cake.
Their honeymoon was in St Anne’s on sea.
Greta and Alan welcomed their first daughter Kim in 1958 and once she was at school Greta went to work at Marks & Spencer in Fishergate Preston.
The couple then had their second daughter Zoë nearly twenty years later in 1978.
They now have six grandchildren and now also have six great grandchildren.
Alan and Gretna both worked up until their retirement. Alan retired from LEP in 1989 after serving 30 years and Greta retired from M&S after 30 years in 1994.
In retirement they have travelled around Europe with friends and had a three month trip to Australia before getting the bug for cruising and have been all over the world on cruise ships – even going on the iconic QE2.
Read more: Fulwood couple mark 50th wedding anniversary with Rosemere Cancer fundraiser
They have received a card from the King and Queen after their achievement and will receive one every year from now onwards.
Alan and Gretna put their 70 year love story down to “love, trust and a bit of compromise”.
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