At the double

The happy foursome tied the knot in 1953 at a joint wedding at Holy Trinity Church at Heworth, York.

And while the congregation may have thought they were seeing double when the brides walked down the aisle in identical dresses, the brothers had no such problems.

Today the couples were celebrating their golden weddings and preparing for a special celebration tonight.

Geoff, 76, and Cath, 73, have two children and four grandchildren, and Ray and Joan, both 73, have one son and one grandchild.

Geoff met Cath at The Court Dancing School, in High Ousegate, York, and, as their romance blossomed, they introduced their siblings to each other.

Geoff said: "We decided to get married first, then Ray and Joan decided. If I had left Ray on his own he wouldn't have made as good a choice.

"Some people get confused between the two sisters, but we never have and most people can soon tell the difference."

Geoff worked for 50 years at Portakabin, after joining the York-based company in 1942 as a joinery apprentice.

Ray worked on the railways, as did Cath and Joan, whose maiden name was Langan.

Joan said: "They decided first that they were getting married and we were drawn into it. I always knew that I wanted to get married.

"There was never any question that we wouldn't have a double wedding, we have always done everything together."

Ray said the four of them have always got on well together.

He said: "We don't fall out. It has been great. We used to go everywhere together, and we still do, but less now because we have families of our own."

The couples have been so close that they even lived next door to each other for a while. But they have now put a bit of space between them by living next door, but one, just off Stockton Lane.

The four Cooks have always celebrated their wedding anniversaries together and today's anniversary is no exception. They will be enjoying with a special dinner with the rest of their family.

Updated: 11:03 Friday, March 07, 2003