Drive-by celebration for anniversary couple
Two Sunderland sweethearts were surprised by their loved ones as they celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in lockdown.
Silksworth residents Stan and Sarah Pearson were over the moon when their loving family and friends surprised them with a drive-by celebration on their wedding anniversary on Sunday.
The couple haven’t seen their family and friends for 10 weeks as they have been self-isolating at home due to the coronavirus outbreak.
And their loved ones wanted to make the day extra special for them, after they suffered the devastating loss of their son during the COVID-19 pandemic last month.
Graham Peason passed away on April 5 at the age of 55, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer more than two years ago.
Stan, 83 and Sarah, 84, and their family weren’t able to hold a proper funeral or wake for Graham due to the lockdown restrictions and social distancing measures.
But the couple – who have 27 grandchildren and greatgrandchildren – couldn’t stop smiling at noon on Sunday when family and friends joined them to celebrate in the street.
“We wanted to do something special for them given the circumstances,” said granddaughter Sarah Fairley, 22, who lives with her grandparents and her mum Angela Pearson, 48.
“We couldn’t have a party like we normally do, so we got in touch with everyone and arranged for them all to drive by at midday and beep their horns, with balloons out of the car window.
“They were over the moon.”
Stan and Sarah were married at St Matthew’s Church in 1958, at the age of 22 and 21.
They had met in their local pub – formerly known as the Dyke (now the Golden Fleece) – where Sarah was working as a barmaid.
Stan worked as a miner all his life and the couple went on to have six children.
Sarah said: “We want to thank all our friends and family who made the day special – particularly Lindsay Williams who had the idea and helped organise it all.
“It was a total surprise, I wasn’t expecting it at all and we’re still completely over the moon.”