DIAMOND wedding couple Mike and Wyn Talbot-Butler celebrated 60 years of married life on Thursday with their sons and their wives.

The Sandiway couple enjoyed a Chinese meal, and thanked everyone who sent cards, messages and gifts to make their special day one to remember.

They met at Northwich Vics’ Drill Field ground in 1953, and were married at Weaverham Parish Church on Saturday, May 18, 1957, before honeymooning in the Swiss Alps at Lucerne.

At Lucerne their hotel was filled by members of Northwich Festival Choir on tour, and they shared a table with the choir’s renowned conductor Cyril Dawes.

They lived initially at Weaver Road, Castle, before buying a semi-detached bungalow at Leftwich, the cost being a mere £2,185, or £2,395 with a brick garage.

“Both our sons arrived while we were at Leftwich,” said Mike.

“Mark, 53, lives in London and is a senior film editor of the television show Top Gear. He is married to a Canadian woman, Tanya.

“Nick, 47, better-known locally as a cricketer and footballer and for his joie de vivre, works for a world-class high-tech company and lives at Kingsmead with his wife Joy and daughter Charlotte, who is an impish four.

“Wyn and I moved to Sandiway in 1977, and have been happy there ever since.

“As Chief Reporter, later Sports Editor, of the Northwich Guardian from 1951-64, I covered every major event in the town in those years and loved every minute of it.”

Wyn worked at ICI, then brought the couple’s sons up, before latterly becoming a dinner lady at Cuddington Primary School.

“From 1994 to 2006, we achieved a lifetime ambition by travelling the world watching England cricket,” said Mike.

“We went on 13 tours to almost every cricket playing country and made many friends worldwide, including some England players.

“I played cricket for Northwich from 1952 to 1980 - Wyn was tea lady, then scorer - at the fine old Vicarage Road ground before becoming an umpire.

“Both Wyn and I served the Cheshire County League since its inception in 1975, I as secretary for 17 years , am currently president and we still produce a weekly newsletter which goes out all over the globe.

“The Mid-Cheshire FA Council put up with me for 20 years, and I was founder president of the Mid-Cheshire Sunday League in 1966 after helping to bring Sunday football to the town with Northwich Press FC five years earlier.

The award of the BEM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2012 came my way, and both Wyn and I have been to Lord’s to receive an OSCA - Outstanding Service to Cricket Award.”