A South Cheshire couple who met in a coffee bar when they were aged just 14 and 17 are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

Freda and Allan Maxfield married on 20th March, 1965 at St Mary's Church in Alsager and have shared their secret of a long and happy marriage.

The couple both went to university at the same time at Manchester Metropolitan University as mature students and have lived in Canada but came back to the UK as they were missing the English way of life.

The Maxfields, who have two children and live in Cranberry Lane, say working as a 'good team' is the secret to a long and happy marriage and working with each other.

"We're well suited and have lived a long and happy marriage," said Freda, aged 77. "When we got married the vicar told us it wasn't 50 50 but 100 percent and that's what we have done.

"We met in a coffee bar in Alsager when I was 14 and Allan was 17. He was perched on a high stool and we just caught each other's eyes.

"Allan was an apprentice engineer when we first met. We then went to a friend's house and saw each other again. Later on we realised we loved each other and couldn't wait to get married."

The couple had two stints living in British Columbia, Canada coming back the first time and then returning a second time to give the lifestyle another go.

"In the end we just couldn't settle," said Freda. "We missed England and the way of life too much and our family. We're very British."

The couple lived in Mow Cop in a cottage for a while then moved back to Alsager where both studied at Manchester Metropolitan in their 30s where they both became mature students studying for a degree.

Freda also used to help her sister and brother-in-law out, Hilda and Geoff Ellicock, at lunchtimes at The Lodge pub in Alsager making sandwiches.

"I had dropped out of grammar school but made up for it by going to university and then doing a Master of Letters in Victorian studies at Keele University."

Freda, who now writes a blog about her garden and homecraft then became a research assisant at MMU while her husband, aged 80, became a senior lecturer in design and technology.

"We're quite unconventional and have always accepted each other. We're soul mates as well as friends. You have to work through any problems," said Freda.

"We've had our ups and downs but we've worked through them."

And Freda's advice to other couples is to work through problems if you can. "It's not always easy but working through things is important."

Sixty years of marriage is a milestone. Are you a Sandbach couple or living near Sandbach celebrating the big anniversary or birthday? Sandbach Nub News wants to hear from you! Email [email protected]

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