All aboard for diamond celebration

Joan and Sam Brownlee

A ROYTON couple are to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary in style — by taking a Caribbean cruise.

Sam and Joan Brownlee will head off on their dream trip later in the year to mark today’s occasion.

And it is a fitting way for the couple to celebrate as they have always placed great store on being fit and active.

Mr Brownlee (82) keeps on the move as a volunteer for the Royal Oldham Hospital, delivering medicine to the wards.

It is a part-time task he enjoys and has done for 17 years.

He also enjoys gardening and walking, as does Mrs Brownlee (79), whose other interests include aqua aerobics at Royton Baths and swimming. She also likes to listen to Oldham Community Radio.

The couple have lived in Royton for 40 years. But they met and married in Warrington.

Later Mr Brownlee worked in Manchester for Matthew Swain, first as a metal worker and later rising to become managing director.

Mr Brownlee said: “We are as comfortable with each other as we ever were. But the family keeps us going.”

The couple have a son, two daughters, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.