A TATTENHALL couple who are celebrating 50 years of marriage said their romance blossomed over some freshly baked bread.
Pearl, and Basil Ackerley, of Newton Lane, met at the Wind Mill bakery in Brown Knowl in 1957 where Pearl worked.
Basil, 73, is a plumber and was fitting wash basins in the bakery when he met Pearl in the shop.
Pearl, 71, said: “He was the bakery’s plumber and would come round quite frequently. I was 18 and he was 19, we courted for around three years before we got married.”
The couple married at the Tattenhall Lanes Chapel in 1960.
They had a son, David and a daughter, Merle and now have three grandchildren. The couple have spent much of their working life on Pearl’s family farm in Tattenhall and when her father could no longer continue working Basil bought the farm. The former dairy farm is now run as a beef farm, and the whole family is involved in keeping it running.
As well as the farm work Basil continued and continues to work as a plumber whilst Pearl worked as a pre-school deputy supervisor in Huxley, based at the village hall.
She said: “I spent 21 years at Huxley and absolutely loved it. It was a bit of a shock to the system when I left.”
Pearl said her and Basil have no time to relax though.
She said: “Although David has taken over the plumbing business we are still very much involved.”
The couple will celebrate their wedding anniversary with a family meal, and a big party at their farm.
Pearl said: “We have around 130 people coming so it should be lots of fun.”
Pearl said the secret of their happy marriage is working together.
She added: “We always support each other and work through problems.”
