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East Leeds couple’s 65 years together
Joan and Michael Howson.
They’re living proof of the old saying: absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Joan and Michael Howson were separated for 15 months just a day after getting married – but 65 years later they’re still going strong.
Mr and Mrs Howson, of Westbourne Avenue, Garforth, celebrate their blue sapphire anniversary on Wednesday. (February 8)
Mrs Howson, 83, said: “We’ve had lots of ups and downs, but we were brought up to respect marriage vows – you didn’t take them lightly.”
The couple met at the Central Ordnance Depot in Donington, Leicestershire, where Mrs Howson – Joan Bowman at the time – lived and where Mr Howson, who is from Garforth, was stationed as a clerical assistant.
“I was a typist and he used to have to walk past my desk,” Mrs Howson said.
“I was made to sit on the front row because I talked too much and we used to chat. It was his lovely, wavy auburn hair that first caught my eye.”
After a six-month courtship, they married at St Mary’s Church in Garforth in 1947 – the year of the Queen and Prince Philip’s wedding.
“There was 6ft of snow and we had to dig the taxis out to get to the church,” Mrs Howson said.
The following day Mr Howson, now 86, was dispatched to Palestine for national service while Mrs Howson stayed with his parents in Garforth. He wrote to her every day while he was away.
She continued to work as a typist for the civil service and, after he was demobbed, Mr Howson took up work as a tool-room miller helping to build tanks at the Royal Ordnance Factory in Cross Gates.
He became the longest serving member of staff, spending 47 years there until his retirement.
His wife said: “He absolutely loved it. I never knew him to come home saying ‘I’m glad that day’s over’.”
The couple have two children – Paul, 63, and Cheryl, 61, – four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. They had a celebratory dinner at the Holiday Inn in Garforth on Saturday. “We have an excellent family,” Mrs Howson said.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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