Alan and Marion Shuttleworth met at a dance in Bowness in 1957 and have been inseparable ever since.

Alan, of Croftlands in the village, is originally from Melling, and Marion was brought up at Roundthwaite, near Tebay.

Marion said: "He came and asked me for a dance and it went on from there."

Alan lived at Burneside from 1945 until 1957 and when he met Marion, he had to travel to Tebay on his motorbike to see her.

The couple were married in Tebay Methodist Chapel in 1959, two years after they met.

They honeymooned in Edinburgh and then lived in Kendal.

In 1960, Alan went to work for George Robinson on his farm at Moss End.
Marion worked in an agricultural chemist's for three years and Alan worked at the farm until 1965, when the couple moved to Warton.

She then looked after the children and did part-time work in catering whilst the kids were growing up.

Alan worked for farmer Alec Bowker for 34 years, until he retired in 1999.

The couple have two daughters, a son, three grandsons and one granddaughter.

Daughter Joyce is 49, son Reg is 47, and youngest daughter Janet is 42.

Their grandchildren are called Adam, Bradley, Laura and Ryan.

Alan, 72, a lifelong supporter of Preston North End, is a keen golfer at Casterton and also a keen gardener, having exhibited at vegetable shows in Warton, Silverdale, Storth and Arnside.

Marion, 67, likes doing handicrafts and loves growing orchids.
The couple enjoy holidays together and have recently been on a cruise in the Canaries.

When the children were younger, the family used to caravan in Scotland and Wales – in fact anywhere with a seaside. They have also visited Spain, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Majorca.

They plan on having a family get-together to celebrate their anniversary.

As for the secret to a happy marriage, Alan said: "It's give and take and we have both worked hard.

"We've had our ups and downs but we've stuck together."

Marion said: "We've always lived where we worked. You have to give and take."