Joan Gaffney, 90, and her husband John, 92, from Huyton, Liverpool, are celebrating 70 years of marriage after first meeting as young workers at the Meccano factory in Speke. The couple tied the knot on July 21, 1956, and have remained inseparable ever since.
Meeting at the Factory
Joan was working as a paint sprayer at the Meccano factory when John, then a die-cast machine operator, caught her eye. She recalled: "We both worked in the Meccano in Speke, and we both fancied each other. John worked on the die-cast machine, and I used to paint and spray the red buses. He came over to ask me on a date while I was covered in red paint." John asked her to meet him in Garston, and the rest is history.
John's dedication won Joan over. She said: "He used to get three buses to come and see me. That's how much he loved me. I also thought he looked like Alan Ladd, the film star." John also serenaded her with his own version of "The Yellow Rose of Texas," changing the lyrics to "The Yellow Rose of Garston."
Wedding and Early Years
The couple married at St Francis of Assisi Church in Garston, with their reception in the church hall. Their honeymoon was spent in Buxton, staying with John's auntie and uncle. After marrying, they waited 11 years to get their own home, living with Joan's parents, then her sister Joyce's family, and finally John's parents in Halewood.
Joan said: "Starting off in life was probably the biggest challenge. It was hard because everything was so expensive, but we worked every day. I stayed at Meccano, and John went to work at Standard Triumph."
Family and Later Life
The Gaffneys raised four children: Robert, Debbie, Jeanette, and Ian. They now have eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, with family spread across the UK and Australia. Despite their age, Joan and John live independently and enjoy regular outings for coffee and sausage rolls.
Joan said: "We just get on well together. We go with the flow. We don't bother anybody. We enjoy one another's company. We go everywhere together. We go into Halewood Village, have a cup of coffee and a sausage roll, and spend time with the family. My favourite thing now is he's good at making a cup of tea. He looks after me, and I look after him."
The couple will celebrate their platinum anniversary with family and friends at Halewood British Legion later this month. Reflecting on 70 years, Joan said: "It doesn't feel like a lifetime. I honestly think it flew over. People can't believe it when we tell them. I think we're the oldest couple on our road now."
