A SPARKLING Bromsgrove couple will today (Friday) celebrate their 60th diamond wedding anniversary.
Kenneth Oates was born in Stourport on April 13, 1941, and his wife Ann, nee Tipping, was born in Bromsgrove on May 20, 1942.
Sadly Ann’s twin sister Pat passed away on December 29 last year as – because Pat got married to her husband Colin six weeks after Kenneth and Ann – there were plans for a double celebration. The sisters both used the same bridesmaid dress for each other’s wedding.
Kenneth grew up in Hanover Street, Bromsgrove, and went to St Peter’s CE School, Church Lane, followed by the nearby Watt Close (now St John’s Middle).
Ann grew up in Lickey End and went to Lickey End Primary before heading to Watt Close School.
During their working lives, Kenneth worked for Thomas Wolfe in the High Street, Garringtons and as a self-employed carpet-fitter for more than 25 years. He also drove for Pony Express and DHL as a parcel courier until he retired.
Ann worked at Marshall ladies shop in Bromsgrove High Street and at Alcocks Fishing Tackle in Redditch, hand-making fishing flies, then Deritend Castings making golf club heads in Droitwich.
Ann was a housewife after their son Andy arrived in 1967.
How they met
Kenneth and Ann knew each other from school but met properly in the Espresso Coffee Shop in Bromsgrove High Street.
They got married at St John’s Church on August 15, 1964 and went to visit Kenneth’s elder brother and wife and their children in Totton, near Southampton, after the wedding.
As well as their son and daughter-in-law Kayla 57, the pair have three granddaughters Hayley 32, Jemma 30 and Kim 27. And they have four great grandchildren – Millie 10, Ollie six, Jack four, and Willow who will be five weeks old on their anniversary itself.
In their early days, they spent some of their leisure time going dancing on Saturday nights and Kenneth was treasurer at Catshill Working Men’s Club.
Ann enjoyed bingo on a Thursday night and the pair loved to go caravaning – a hobby they undertook for more than 40 years – either in their static or touring caravan. Brean in Somerset was a particular favourite spot for the couple and family.
The pair will be celebrating their marvellous milestone with an ‘open house’ party tomorrow (Saturday) when all family and friends are welcome.
And, the all important question – when the pair were asked about the secret to a long and happy marriage – they said: “We put it down to always listening to one and another and plenty of give and take.”
