Meet the city’s platinum couple
A Sunderland couple who met at the dance have marked seven decades of married life together.
Edward Collins and Patience Gray both grew up in the Johnson Street area of Sunderland, which lies behind Silksworth Row near the city centre.
Both their parents moved to Plains Farm following the Second World War and they became part of a bigger group of friends, starting their courtship after they began to go to a dance night held in Silksworth.
Each had been eva cuat ed during the conflict, Pat to Lancaster and Ed to Weardale where he became involved in farm work, but on his return, he joined the land army and then followed his father into the shipyards.
Ed, 94, was promoted to a foreman, but turned down the offer to train as a manager because he prefer ed physical work and“being with the lads.”
Meanwhile Pat, 91, worked at Smyth’s bakery in Cleveland Road, where she loved being on the shop floor and taking home treats to share with the family.
A year after their wedding at St Mary’s Church, they became parents to twins, Pat S na it hand Ed, now 68, a surprise as there were no scans available at that stage.
They later welcomed Janice, 64, and Diane Elliott, 61.
The couple spent 20 years living in Far ring don after buying their first home, before then moving to Grangetown, where they still live.
They are grandparents of seven, great grandparents of six and great-great-grandparents of two.
Janice said: “Their wedding anniversary was fairly low key because of the lockdown.
"But we made sure they got a card from the Queen and sent them gifts.
"It seems like they have become closer and closer over the years and they are really inseparable.
"Our dad likes to watch football and cricket and Mam likes East-Enders.
"So they each have to compromise.
"They are so family orientated and it’ s be end iffi cult recently because of everything that has been going on.
"But they love to hear stories of what the grandkids have been up to.
"And we show them photos and from Facebook, which they love to see.”