Daventry diamond wedding couple celebrate 60 years of marriage today

Sheila and Michael Baker have celebrated being married for 60 years today while soaking up the sunshine in the garden together as the country is in lockdown for three weeks.

The pair, who are now aged 79 and 84, met each other at a dance in Luton while they were working at the same engineering company - before they went on to tie the knot in 1960.

Sheila later started working as a registrar who recorded births, deaths and marriages, while Michael got a job working in a managerial role at Vauxhall.

After moving out of Luton 20 years ago for a quieter life in the country, they have settled down in Daventry where Michael now enjoys retirement as a keen gardener and Shelia is a well-known face in her community.

Sheila said: "Throughout our marriage, we've just been patient with each other and we've been kind to one another.

”Things don't just come on a plate, you have to work for them.

"I've always done lots of things and I've been involved in other organisations and we've always had our own hobbies."

Up until four years ago, Sheila was a trustee on the National Board of Townswomen's Guilds in Birmingham where during that time she organised a fundraising idea for Comic Relief.

Guilds from all over the UK held special events and some made quirky toys, nicknamed Comic Critters, which were then sold at community events and raised £20,000.

She is also the chairperson at Northamptonshire Federation Townswomen's Guild - a group that supports lots of women throughout the county.

"It's a case of keeping ladies in touch,” she added. “Perhaps they might be retired ladies who are on their own and we work together to run events, and we always raise money for other people."

Sheila also runs a Knit and Natter session where the women are currently working on a project at the moment to knit jumpers and slippers for children living with their mums in women's refuges, and previously she has taught floristry and craft classes.

Her daughter, Stephanie, said: "I think really what they have shown me is they do things together but they are independant as well - they have always been equal as a couple.

"As a woman they have shown me to be independant from a man, that's really served me in my life and my dad respected that to.

"Mum was always telling me that as a teenager and she's 80 now, so she was really ahead of her time. I felt like I had a good example in my parents of what to look for in a relationship.

"My mum is just amazing. She does so much for the community now, and she's always raising money for people. She is a force to be reckoned with and I hope I'm as well connected and as community minded when I'm older."

The pair, who are parents to Stephanie and Peter, will celebrate their anniversary properly next month with a family meal.