Platinum couple still happy after 70 years

Jack Durrans married his wife Irene at St James Church in Heckmondwike during his first week of army leave.
Jack and Irene Durrans.Jack and Irene Durrans.
Jack and Irene Durrans.

But 70 years later, the couple are closer than ever after celebrating their platinum wedding anniversary with family and friends.

After meeting as employees at Thomas Wood’s wire works in Heckmondwike aged 15, they said their vows in 1946 while in their early 20s.

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Irene, 92, said: “I never thought we would get there but we’re nearly 93 this time and we still know what we’re talking about.

“We’ve been lucky, we have a lovely family and that makes a difference.”

During the run-up to the wedding Irene had moved to Gloucester for war work, and when she came back Jack was sent to serve in Gibraltar.

After Jack returned, the couple lived with his mother on Chapel Lane before getting a bigger house on the street and their daughter Catherine was born, followed by brother Stephen.

In 1968, they moved to Sunny Bank Drive in Mirfield.

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Grandchildren James, Victoria, Gregory and Roger then came along.

The couple have enjoyed many holidays at locations such as Bulgaria, Romania and Italy since Jack retired from the same wire works where they had met.

Jack, also 92, said: “We’ve never fallen out. When you find the right woman, do some old fashioned courting.”

A party was thrown for the couple at Stephen’s house last Saturday for the pair.

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