A couple from the Potteries who now live at Shoemaker Place, Stone, have celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary recently.

Tim and Margaret Pickstock met under Blackpool Tower and soon married on 26 December 1955 at St Giles' in Newcastle before returning to Blackpool for their honeymoon.

Margaret worked as a Machine Operator at the council for around 15 years and once Tim left the RAF, he worked in a bus/car garage for around 26 years.

After that time, a shop became available close to the garage so they opened a ladies fashion and bridal shop called 'Hi Fashion Satin and Lace' on Stafford Street, opposite the Kings Arms, where they both worked for another 26 years.

The couple married at St Giles', Newcastle, in December 1955 (Shoemaker Place).

During this time of running a business together, they did everything as a couple. Tim said: "Margaret was there with her pen and paper, Tim with the spanner and hammer!"

Tim is also part of the Masons and used to model airplanes, go shooting and even built a car for his son's fourth birthday which held eight children.

When asked about anything quirky they can say about each other, Margaret said Tim is the serious one in the relationship - Tim likes plane modelling and Margaret was apparently the party goer!

During their life together so far, they have moved house nine times, with home extensions and most of the labour and planning done themselves.

The couple have also owned both cats and dogs and now enjoy watching what different dogs get up to on the field opposite their living room in Shoemaker Place, where they moved to in September 2022.

Tim said that with a move to a new place they obviously had to leave some things behind, but both enjoy living in Shoemaker Place and like the concept of it, such as "things being done for you, cheerful residents, people come and see you freely and we have a nice room with a view".

To find out more about Shoemaker Place, visit the website.