TWO York couples are each celebrating 60 years of marriage today.

Arthur Hall, 87, and his wife, Lillian, 81, met at a dance in 1948 and were married two years later at St Peter’s Church, in Norton.

The couple moved to New Earswick in 1956, where they have lived ever since. Arthur, who served with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War, said: “We do everything together.

“We enjoy gardening and taking the occasional trip out. We used to like taking holidays in Europe and the USA. But I think the key to a long and happy marriage is honesty and trust.”

For the past 65 years, Arthur has been a member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, an historic benevolent and social organisation. He attends meetings every week and was also honoured to serve as the Chief of the York Lodge twice, in 1961 and 2000.

The couple have one daughter, Kathryn, 54, and a grandson, Matthew, 19, who is hoping to go to university in September.

They are celebrating their diamond wedding with a family meal, followed by having a few friends and neighbours round to celebrate with cake and wine.

Also celebrating 60 years of marriage are George and Barbara Crosby, from Heworth. George said it was love at first sight when he first set eyes on his future wife on her 18th birthday. Two years later they tied the knot.

Barbara, 79, said: “I was out cycling with his sister on my 18th birthday and his mother sent him out to find us because she thought we were a bit late.

“He looked at me and later said to his sister, ‘I’m going to marry that lass’. The rest is history.

“We’ve never looked back.”

George, 85, spent two years with the Royal Air Force as a flight mechanic before becoming a heat engineer, spending 27 years with Shouksmith and 13 years with Shepherd Engineering.

The couple, who live in Heworth, enjoy gardening and have travelled the world together, visiting America, Australia and much of Europe.

Barbara, who was a machine operator at York’s Rowntree factory, said: “We’ve always been there for each other and we always put each other first.”

Their daughter, Sandra, is throwing a garden party for friends and family to mark their special day.