MEMBERS of Geoff and June Bancroft’s family raised a toast to the couple on Sunday to share in their platinum wedding anniversary celebrations.

The anniversary party was held at The Windmill pub at Tabley for the Moulton couple, who were married at a register office in Altrincham on March 22, 1947, the same year as The Queen’s marriage.

Mr Bancroft, 88, wore his brother’s demob suit for the occasion, and the couple celebrated their marriage with family and friends at Mrs Bancroft’s mother’s home.

Following the celebrations they went to Bellevue in Manchester, which had a fun fair and a zoo, and honeymooned at Blackpool for a few days.

They lived with Mrs Bancroft’s parents for four years, until they were allocated a new council house in Bowden Vale.

Mr Bancroft was a trainee electrician working for his father, who had his own business in Altrincham.

In 1959 he built his own house in Altrincham, where the couple lived until moving to Middlewich Road, Rudheath, where Mr Bancroft ran his own garage business until he sold it to Shell.

They moved bought a bungalow in Moulton, where they ran a hardware shop and garage with Mr Bancroft’s brother Martin.

Mr Bancroft built the garage in Moulton, which later became a sewing factory which he ran for many years.

Mrs Bancroft, 87, stayed at home to look after their five children, and later on had her own business, a laundrette in Moulton.

Mr Bancroft was also a well-known country and western singer, performing for many years in local pubs all over Cheshire and Manchester as Hank Bean, with the Ozark Mountain Boys.

The couple’s children are Julie, who lives in Moulton, and Pauline, Arlene, John and Wendy, who live in Altrincham, Australia, Northamptonshire and Tring respectively.

They also have 15 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Sunday’s celebrations were attended by 30 members of the couple’s family, and they received a card from The Queen to congratulate them on their special anniversary.