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Nice smile sparked romance

29/ 3/2006

A NICE smile and gentlemanly manners sparked a romance which has endured for half a century.

Joseph and Norma Dearnaley, of Merseybank Road, Hadfield, who have just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, met at a dance hall in Didsbury.

Joseph, 77, said: "A friend was in the Territorial Army and invited me and another friend to the dance, where we met five girls and things just developed from there. Her smile was the first thing I noticed about her."

Norma, 71, chipped in: "He was a real gentleman - he had a nice approach."

The couple have three children and five grandchildren. Joseph worked as an accountant for several firms, enjoys gardening and was secretary of Hadfield Conservative Club from 1993-02. Norma worked in local textile mills, loves knitting and found time to foster six children. "I just loved babies," she said.

As well as celebrating in the Fairfield Arms pub-restaurant in Droylsden with family and friends last Saturday - the day after their anniversary - a trip to their daughter's on Mother's Day on Sunday turned into a surprise party.

"We saw people we had not seen for 20 years and got a text message from Norma's brother in Australia who got married the day after we did," said Joseph.