Nurses and caterers at HRI pulled out all the stops to ensure a couple celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary in style. May and Leonard celebrated their special day on ward 8 and caterers supplied a cake.

They married at the Marsden Methodist church on July 20th 1946.

They were already good friends until they decided to start courting one New Year’s Eve.

Before World War 2, May now 92, worked at a mill in Marsden, and Leonard, 93, worked as a ‘clipper’ on the buses.

When the war started Leonard was sent to Burma and May joined the Land Army.

Leonard said: “I sent May a telegram at work in Marsden asking her to meet with me when I was next home and two months down the line we were engaged. I simply said to May ‘we ought to get married’ on her doorstep before I got the bus home. That’s how it all started.”

Daughter Pat Bohdan said: “They really are an amazing couple. Not only to survive the war together, but also to stay married for 69 years! They really do truly love each other and in comparison to how long marriages last these days I am very proud of them.” 

May and Leonard are parents of three, grandparents of eight, great grandparents of three and great, great grandparents of two.

Ward Clark Maureen Gaunt said: “The team on ward 8 wanted to make Leonard and May feel special, especially for their wedding anniversary. We were really happy to make it happen for them”.