Newark couple who met as teens celebrate 60th wedding anniversary

A couple who met as teenagers celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Saturday.

David and Sheila Sibley, of Newark, had planned a dinner party at the Black Swan, Beckingham, but had to cancel because of the coronavirus lockdown.

They also had to cancel Sheila’s 80th birthday celebrations in March.

“It has been disappointing not being able to do anything, but later in the year we hope we can do something big to celebrate,” said Sheila.

“We met at Trinity Guild. It was a youth centre part of the parish church. I was 15 at the time and David was 16.

“I know the date as well — it was September 11, 1955, and we were married five years later on June 20, 1960.”

She said the key to a long marriage was a little bit of give and take.

“It is very rare we have a big disagreement,” she said.

“I love where we live and I put a lot of time into this house, whereas David loves to get out and play his golf.

“We both have an interest in what we do, which is important.”

She said a large part of their good time together was — and still is — spent with childhood friends.

“The Gills, who own the funeral directors in Newark, have been our friends since we were young,” she said.

“Janet and I have been friends since we were four years old.

“We have been out together every year to celebrate, and if you combine our two marriages together, which is 121 years between us, this is the first time we haven’t been able to go out and celebrate.

“We have had great fun together, and we have other good friends that we see.”

Sheila said her and David, who ran a butchers shop in Newark, hoped to get together with all the family soon, which includes their daughter, Jill, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.