When one Redcar couple met on the dancefloor, little did they realise their life would become a whirlwind of many happy memories together.
Basil ‘Bas’ and Maureen Gunn, of Redcar, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary last weekend.
Bas, 81 and Maureen, 77, first set eyes on each other in 1954 at the Coatham Hotel on Redcar sea front.
Maureen, who was 16 at the time, said: “I am the dancer. I still dance today.”
However, Bas, who was 20 when they met, said: “I was looking for girls.
“I think it was her red hair that I liked.
“I asked her for a dance at first and then I asked her out to the Palace cinema but she wouldn’t sit on the back row.”
Maureen said: “We fell in love with each other. He was a nice looking young man. He was very well dressed. I think it was his suit. I like my clothes.”
The couple exchanged their wedding vows on February 15, 1955 at Guisborough Register Office after which they visited some of Bas’ family in Birmingham for their honeymoon.
Within the year, the couple who have three children - Linda, 60, Susan, 55 and Ian, 49 - had their first child.
In 1956, Bas began his two years National Service during which time, Susan stayed with Bas’ parents.
Following Bas’ return home in 1958, the couple bought their first house in Lingdale - their first of six properties which they have so far owned.
Bas spent his working life as an industrial chemist having started at ICI in 1964. Then in 1967, after the birth of their third child, he was given the chance to go and work in South Africa. As a result, the family lived there for three years before returning to Teesside.
In 1977, Bas got a job working for Pullman Kellogg, an American company which built chemical plants all over the world. As a result, over a period of around 35 years, Bas worked in countries such as Libya, Algeria, Syria, Russia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Thailand, Romania and Pakistan.
Since Bas retired in 2001, the couple who have eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, have continued to enjoy travelling with plans to visit Italy later this year.
Maureen still enjoys dancing and Bas loves photography.
Maureen said: “I can’t believe how old we are and where the years have gone. It has been like a whirlwind.”
When asked the secret to 60 happy years, Bas joked: “I don’t believe anyone who says they don’t argue. We have been fighting for the last 60 years.”
Maureen added: “You have to give and take.
“We kiss every morning and we never go to bed on a row until we have made up. We have always said sorry.”
The couple are now looking forward to their anniversary celebrations with family on February 28 at Lemon Grass restaurant in Redcar.
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