Devoted couple who met at Hartlepool's Queens Rink Ballroom celebrate 50 years of happiness on Golden Wedding anniversary

Brian and Florence Thompson, both 75, have celebrated 50 years of happiness as they marked their Golden Wedding anniversary.

The couple, who now live at Queens Meadow Care Home, on Stockton Road, Hartlepool, raised a glass to the special occasion as they toasted their lifetime of happiness along with staff and fellow residents on Saturday, May 2.

Brian and Flo first met when they were both in their late teens, at the Queens Rink Ballroom, affectionately known as ‘The Rink’, which was on Clarence Road before it was demolished in 1968.

And it was love at first sight for Brian who said: “I first saw Flo walking down the street and I instantly thought she was beautiful.

“We used to spend a lot of time going to the youth clubs together and we often enjoyed going to the carnival and dancing at The Rink.

“I wanted to ask Flo’s father for her hand in marriage for a full week before I found the courage.

“I kept having to send Flo to the bingo to make sure she was out of the house.”

The pair married at Hartlepool Registry Office on May 2, 1970 and enjoyed their reception at the RAFA Club, on Stockton Road.

Once married, they enjoyed spending time walking their dog, Kim, and looking in shop windows.

In February 2020, Flo moved into Queens Meadow Care Home and Brian followed in March.

Since then the pair have been enjoying gardening together in the home’s outdoor spaces.

When asked their secret to a long and happy marriage, Brian said: “It’s helping each other.

“That’s what makes it work for us.”

Julie Armstrong, home manager at Queens Meadow Care Home, added: “Brian and Flo are such a lovely couple and we were delighted to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with them.

“They both had a lovely day and enjoyed sharing their two anniversary cakes with their fellow residents and staff.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.