A couple who met at a village dance have celebrated 60 years of marriage with a surprise tea party at a Wrexham care home.<\/p>\n
John Hughes, 88, and his wife, Barbara, 79, first met at Wrexham Memorial Hall when he asked for a dance \u2013 the start of a lifelong romance.<\/p>\n
Now, six decades on, staff at Pendine Park\u2019s Gwern Alyn Care Homes organised a special afternoon tea to mark their diamond wedding anniversary.<\/p>\n
The couple, from Gresford, were left overwhelmed by the unexpected celebration at the home where John now lives following a debilitating stroke 18 months ago.<\/p>\n
Barbara, who visits him every day, said: \u201cSo much has happened over our years together, we have some wonderful memories. John and I have had a happy life in Gresford and made good many friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn has settled in well here. Gwern Alyn is lovely and welcoming, everyone is so friendly and considerate.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was always going to be a special day for as we celebrated so many years together, but we never expected anything like this wonderful tea party. It is like getting married all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n
John was pleased that the day was made even more special by the fact that the spring sunshine had come out just as it did on their wedding day all those years ago.<\/p>\n
The couple\u2019s two daughters, Katie Adamson and Sally Boles,\u00a0 had managed to keep the celebration a secret from the couple.<\/p>\n
They were overjoyed that the Gwern Alyn team had gone to the additional trouble of making a special cake and presentation of anniversary flowers.<\/p>\n
John also presented his delighted wife with a bouquet and card, and their daughters added to the festoon with their another gift of a fragrant flower arrangement.<\/p>\n
Katie said: \u201cWe cannot thank everyone enough for the trouble they have gone to. Mum and dad are thrilled, there are so many flowers, it is just superb.\u201d<\/p>\n
In another surprise the couple were presented with a 60th anniversary card hand-made by Pendine Park creative arts consultant Jason Bennion, who heads up arts workshops for residents at Gwern Alyn. Central to the card was an enlarged copy of a photograph of the couple on their wedding day.<\/p>\n
Barbara,\u00a0 who was moved to tears, said: \u201cI am so touched and can\u2019t say thank-you enough. This brings back so many memories of happy times we\u2019ve shared.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur love is as strong as ever and I\u2019m so proud that both our wonderful grown up daughters are here to share this magical day with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gwern Alyn manager, Cindy Clutton and care practitioner Vicky Garbutt, said it was an honour to be a part of such a remarkable milestone in the couple\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n
Cindy said: \u201cTheir love still sparkles brightly and after so many years together they deserve a first-class celebration. It is a pleasure for us to help make this anniversary day as special as possible for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
John and Barbara were also looking forward to seeing their wider family at a second celebration to follow the anniversary day. They have five young grandchildren.<\/p>\n
Katie and her husband, Nick, have three children, Phoebe, Tom and Louis; Sally and her husband Garry, have two children, Max and Ollie.<\/p>\n
Katie said: \u201cWe\u2019ll be having a little gathering when all the family can get here but we wanted to mark the day itself as it is such a momentous anniversary. The tea party table looks so inviting with 60th anniversary balloons and banners on the wall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Katie and Sally grew up in Gresford where their parents lived most of their married lives, though John was originally raised in nearby Ruabon.<\/p>\n
The party brought back a host of happy memories for Barbara.<\/p>\n
She recalled: \u201cWe met at a dance at Gresford Memorial Hall when John was in the RAF. He spotted me and came over to ask me to dance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was so surprised that at first he I thought he was asking someone else. But I soon said yes when I realised he was speaking to me. It was the beginning of a lifelong romance. We\u2019ve been so very happy together.\u201d<\/p>\n
After his National Service John enlisted in the RAF, including serving three years in Germany.<\/p>\n
Before joining up he had completed an apprenticeship as an electrician and on eventually leaving the RAF he went on to work as an electrical contractor while Barbara worked as a make-up consultant.<\/p>\n
Away from work they enjoyed travelling and following Formula 1 motor racing.<\/p>\n
Barbara said: \u201cWe had many happy family holidays and more recently John and I have enjoyed some ocean cruise adventures. We especially liked Hong Kong, Singapore, Cape Town and Acapulco.\u201d<\/p>\n