A COUPLE who discovered a spark between them while working at an electrical factory celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary today (Thursday, February 25).

John and Margaret Johnson, of Middlestone Moor, near Spennymoor, County Durham, met at the town’s Thorn Electrical factory and arranged a date.

Mrs Johnson, nee Saunders, said: “We went out a couple of times and he paid for my taxi home to Thornley, but that got expensive and by the third date I thought he was going off me.

“Eventually though we got engaged and married at Bishop Auckland registry office.”

The couple lived with Mr Johnson’s mother in Middlestone Moor for two years before moving to Newton Aycliffe when they were expecting their first child, Jacqui. They also have a son, Philip.

They lived in Chilton, Coundon and Ferryhill before moving back to Middlestone Moor, just two streets away from where Mr Johnson was born.

Mr Johnson, who worked in heavy engineering before completing national service with the Royal Engineers, returned to engineer as a plater and Mrs Johnson was a housewife and raised their two children.

The couple have enjoyed a happy life together but it has not been without its trials- the family really had to pull together to deal with health problems Jacqui suffered as a child.

They have lots of happy memories particularly of family camping holidays and trips abroad, many to see Philip who has lived in Germany for more than 30 years, and they have six grandchildren and a great grandchild.

Mrs Johnson, 79, said: “Everything we do we like to do together, people say ‘wow’ when we say how long we’ve been married but it doesn’t feel that long as we’ve been happy.”

Mr Johnson, 83, added: “I don’t know where the years have gone, the older you gets the faster they go.

“We’ve always talked things over and pulled together, it is lovely to celebrate this anniversary.”