From first dance to forever: Dennis and Patricia celebrate 70-Year love story

Seventy years after first saying “I do,” local couple Dennis and Patricia have once again stood side by side at the altar of St Peter’s Church, Ashton-under-Lyne, to renew their wedding vows - in the very same church where their married life began in 1955.

In an emotional and joy-filled ceremony, Dennis and Patricia were joined by family, lifelong friends, and remarkably, the same bridesmaids who stood by Patricia’s side all those years ago. Guests travelled from across the UK, and beyond, to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion: a Platinum Wedding Anniversary, marking an incredible 70 years of marriage.

The vow renewal was followed by an intimate celebration filled with memories, laughter, and no shortage of happy tears.

Adding to the couple’s joy was a personal message from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who wrote: “We send you our warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on the celebration of your Platinum Wedding Anniversary on 6th August 2025. May your celebrations be particularly happy and memorable.”

Both born in 1935, Dennis and Patricia grew up in the shadows of the Second World War, learning resilience and strength from a young age. Their love story began in their teens - quite literally around the corner from one another.

“We didn’t even realise we lived so close,” Patricia recalls with a smile. “Dennis jokes now that it was very convenient for him!”

Their early courtship was filled with cinema dates and dancing at local venues like the Palais in Ashton, the Premier, and Belle Vue - fond memories of a simpler, joyful youth.

Dennis and Patricia with their original bridesmaids.

Dennis began his working life in 1950 as an apprentice sheet metal worker before joining the RAF, where he trained as an airframe fitter at the rank of corporal. In 1954, the couple got engaged over Easter and married the following summer on 6th August 1955.

Their family began soon after, with daughter Janet born in 1957 and son Mark in 1969. After Dennis left the RAF in 1963, the family settled in Denton, where they raised their children in the same home they still enjoy today.

Now, surrounded by three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, Dennis and Patricia reflect on a life filled with travel, family, and, most importantly, each other.

They’ve enjoyed holidays near and far, visiting Austria, Spain, the Canaries, Malta, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, and Canada. But these days, they say, they’re happiest enjoying life at a slower, more peaceful pace.

Dennis and Patricia's original wedding photo.

When asked the secret to their 70-year marriage, Patricia responds with wisdom shaped by a lifetime of love and experience: “There is no secret to it. We met when we were young, and you grow together as you get older. You learn from each other. Nobody puts a magic wand over you and says everything’s going to be honky dory for the next 70 years, life’s not like that. You just take the good with the bad. Fortunately, we’re a united family and Dennis and I have always seen through the bad times together. That’s how it’s always been.”

Dennis agrees, adding: “I think, obviously love comes into it, but you must respect one another and trust one another. And any arguments we have, we settle before we go to bed.”

As the couple renewed their vows beneath the same roof where their journey began, surrounded by those who have walked with them through life’s highs and lows, their story stood as a powerful reminder of what love, commitment, and partnership truly mean.

In a world that moves fast, Dennis and Patricia’s 70 years together offer something increasingly rare - a timeless love, nurtured by respect, strengthened by shared memories, and celebrated by generations.

Dennis and Patricia holding their original wedding photo.