A cricketer bowled a maiden over on a school trip - and more than six decades on the Ramsbottom couple have celebrated their diamond wedding.

Gordon Barnes was on a sixth form outing from Haslingden Grammar School, when he was introduced to former pupil Irene Camm.

He said :" We were put together by her friend and the rest, as they say, is history."

The couple, then both aged 17, began going out together and five years later, on September 24, 1955, married at what was then Ebenezer Baptist Chapel in Haslingden, where Mrs Barnes was a Sunday School teacher.

The bride was a telephonist, working at that time on the switchboard at Rawtenstall Post Office. The groom, who graduated three months before from Manchester University, had started his two years' National Service in the Army.

They honeymooned in Blackpool, and their first home was in Grane Street, Haslingden, before moving to Ramsbottom in 1965 and living there ever since.

Mrs Barnes went on to be an assistant at Ramsbottom Library for 20 years, between 1972 and 1992.

Ramsbottom-born Mr Barnes played as a batsman in the Lancashire League for Ramsbottom, between 1952 and 1955, and then for Haslingden between 1958 and 1963, alongside and against several greats of the game, including the West Indian legend, Sir Everton Weekes.

Mr Barnes began his working life at Turners Asbestos Co in Rochdale and in 1958 moved to ICI, where he was an industrial chemist for 32 years before taking early retirement.

The couple, now both aged 82, have two daughters, Heather Briggs and Wendy Barlow. They also have four grandchildren: Kim Briggs, aged 32, and Damien Briggs, aged 30, who live in Australia; Haydn Barlow, aged 30, and his younger brother Alex, aged 26; and two great grandsons, Harrison Briggs, nearly 30 months-old, and 17-month-old Charlie Barlow.

Mr and Mrs Barnes have enjoyed travelling throughout their married life with many a happy holiday in Lanzarote, where they had a timeshare apartment for 20 years. They have also been very keen ballroom dancers and regular swimmers.

September also brought another marriage ceremony in the pair's family, as grandson Haydn tied the knot with his partner Clare Hardy at The Fisherman's Retreat in Ramsbottom, just two weeks before Mr and Mrs Barnes' 60th anniversary. The diamond couple's celebrations were partly "put on hold" until the newly- weds returned from their honeymoon to join them.

Mr and Mrs Barnes say the key to a long and happy relationship was having a lot of shared pastimes and spending time together.

Mrs Barnes said: "We have similar interests. We have liked dancing, swimming and holidays abroad."

Her husband added how they never retire to bed without settling any disagreement they may have had.

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