A COUPLE'S hopes of reliving their wedding day seemed doomed after their church was converted into apartments and the reception venue was demolished.
Fifty years ago Linda and Tommy Heyes celebrated tying the knot with a reception at the Old Duke pub in Brandlesholme Road.
It has now been knocked down to make way for housing, but when developer Seddon Homes heard about the pair's special anniversary they decided to surprise them with a celebration.
The pair met in 1966 while working at Courtaulds’ mill in Kirklees, Tottington, and had their first date later that year, on October 14. 
They then married on March 23, 1968, at All Saints Church in Elton, before hosting their reception at the Old Duke.
Mr Heyes went on to become a builder and Mrs Heyes worked as a word processor for Greater Manchester Police. They have three children and four grandchildren.
This year, in a bid to make their Golden Wedding anniversary extra special, the couple decided to approach Seddon Homes, who are currently building 10 houses on the site of the former pub, asking them to help celebrate the milestone.
Mrs Heyes said: “We really wanted to celebrate the occasion at one of the places which meant so much to us, but the church has now become apartments and the mill where we worked is also a housing estate.  
“We simply wished to raise a glass for old times’ sake and Seddon Homes’ Dukes Rise development was our last hope.”
The couple initially asked the company if they could visit the site on their anniversary. But Seddon Homes decided to surprise the couple with much more — arranging a glass of fizz and a cake at the site’s cabin, decorated with wedding photos, fairy lights, roses, golden balloons and candles.
Steve Lightbown, site manager at Dukes Rise, said: “When Linda and Tommy first approached us on the site here at Dukes Rise, simply asking if they could take a photo of themselves on the date of their anniversary, it was clear we had to do something special to celebrate such a momentous occasion.”
Mrs Heyes added: “Seddon Homes really went to town to ensure our wedding anniversary was a special celebration.  We really did not expect to be so spoilt.”  
The Old Duke pub, which later became The Phoenix, then The Brandlesholme, was built after the Second World War. Denis Maddock, sales and marketing director of Seddon Homes, said: “We were delighted to be able to celebrate with Linda and Tommy and wish them many more happy years of marriage.”