They literally bumped into each other on the dodgems - now this Leeds couple are celebrating their diamond anniversary
Brian Tillotson from Middleton was aged 17 when he spotted 16-year-old Beeston girl Winifred Cross and her friend on the dodgems at Hunslet Feast fair on Hunslet Moor in August 1955.
They married two years later in 1957, have three children and nine grand children and are excited at the prospect that they will soon be great grandparents for the first time.
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Hide AdThe couple, of Wortley, are expecting a letter from the Queen and celebrated their diamond anniversary with a party at New Wortley Community Centre, where they are regulars, this week.
Mr Tillotson, 81, who started work at Sulzer on Jack Lane, Hunslet, aged 15, said he was supposed to be taking a trip to Scotland in August 1955 during what was known as the Leeds Holidays - when all the engineering firms closed down for a two-week summer break.
But he changed his plans and went with a friend for a night out at the Hunslet Feast fair.
He said: “We went on the bumper cars and these two ladies couldn’t drive so we kept bumping them.
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Hide Ad“We were just having a bit of fun on the dodgems and got talking and it just went from there. We clicked straight away.”
Mrs Tillotson, 78, said: “He was with his friend and I was with my friend and they kept knocking us in our car. I was thinking ‘I wish they would give up.’
“I didn’t realise it was two lads and afterwards they kept nattering us to go on a different ride.”
Mr Tillotson said: “We met up the following night under the clock outside Dysons on Lower Briggate and went to the Odeon to see 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.”
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Hide AdMr Tillotson, who worked as an engineers pattern maker at Sulzer for 50 years, added: “People say we are joined at the hip.”
To celebrate their milestone anniversary the couple are also planning a family party later this month at City Evangelical Church on Cemetery Road at Beeston.
The couple were married at the former St Peter’s Church on Dewsbury Road, Beeston.
They have three children: Christine, 58; Lorraine, 56 and Neil, 54. Lorraine’s eldest son Ashley’s wife Kamilla is expecting and the baby is due in January.
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Hide AdMrs Tillotson, who worked as an auxillary nurse in the operating theatre at Leeds General Infirmary for 29 years, said: “We have just worked together bringing up the family and we are joined at the hip now.”