Couple celebrate 70 years of marriage

Rose and George Oddie toast their 70th wedding anniversary

CELEBRATIONS are in order for a couple believed to be Oldham’s longest married couple.

George Oddie (94) and his wife, Rose (89), walked down the isle 70 years ago today, making it their platinum wedding anniversary.

The couple, from French Avenue, Watersheddings, were married in Sacred Heart Church, Derker, in 1939.

George, a soldier, spotted Rose, originally from St Mary’s, when he was best man at a wedding two years earlier.

Mr Oddie, born in Greenacres, said: “We met when she was 17 and I was 22.

“I remember her long red hair which went all the way down her back.

“I made a date to meet her again, but when I turned up she’d gone for a bike ride to Hollingworth Lake.”

Mr Oddie worked as a roofer while his wife worked as a weaver in Fitton’s cotton mill, Broadbent Road.

They have three children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A family celebration will mark today’s anniversary and the couple are set to receive a letter of congratulations from the Queen.

Mr Oddie said: “Doesn’t time fly when you are having fun?

“The secret of a good marriage is to treat your other half as you would expect to be treated yourself.”