LIKE mother like daughter could be the rule when it comes to romance on the female side of 83-year-old Stella Whitehouse's family.

She found true love that has lasted 60 years in the ballroom at Blackpool Tower and some years later when her daughter Joyce had grown up she too met her future husband in the seaside resort, this time on a blind date.

Stella and her 88-year-old husband Jack, of Harrison Street, Barnoldswick, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary yesterday with a telegram of congratulations from the Queen added to the cards from friends and family.

Among the visitors was the Mayor of Pendle, Councillor Edwina Sargeant.

The couple, who were both born in Barnoldswick and who have spent all their lives in the town, already knew each other when they met at the Tower Ballroom.

Romance blossomed and they were married in their home town 60 years ago.

Jack was a tackler in the local mills while Stella worked at Rolls Royce when her children were old enough to look after themselves.

By coincidence, Joyce followed in her mother's footsteps and met her husband Philip on a date in the seaside resort.

Jack and Stella are expecting around 45 guests at a special party to mark their diamond milestone on Sunday at the Rolls Royce Social Club, Barnoldswick.

They have a son Ian and five grandchildren Anthony, Janet, Peter, Shauna and Nicholas.

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