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A COUPLE of Handforth lovebirds will have to stagger their toasts this Christmas day as they fit 60th wedding anniversary celebrations around their turkey and tinsel.

Albert and Mary Mottershead, of Tarporley Walk, took their trip down the aisle in festive style when they married on Christmas day in 1948 and have plenty to celebrate at this year’s family get-together at daughter Janet White’s house.

The gathering will be a real family affair as sisters Janet and Eileen are married to brothers Trevor and Terry - so picking the venue for the White family Christmas was easy.

It is these close-knit family values that have seen Albert, 80, and Mary, 79, sail through their 60 years.

Grandfather of 12 Albert said: "We have ups and downs and anyone who says they don’t is lying.

"But our secret is we have always worked hard together to look after our children and family is very important to us."

The Christmassy couple had turkey dinner at their wedding reception after tying the knot at All Saints Church, in Gorton, where they were both born and bred.

The great grandfather of five added: "My mum was all for us getting married and Christmas day was the only day she could get off work at the bookies because that’s when races stopped.

"So we took the chance to get married and had the best Christmas dinner we could when things were rationed.

"It was a very special day."

The wedding came after a testing start to the relationship when the pair were separated the day after they got together as Albert left for the army, aged 18.

The sweethearts communicated only by letter when Albert was posted to India with the Lancashire Fusiliers and Mary was in the Land Army.

Albert, who was involved with Handforth British Legion for ten years, added: "Mary and I had known each other since we were youngsters but only got together just before I joined the army.

"And when I came home we were together again."

The reunion in July 1948 led to an unconventionally romantic engagement - over sausage and chips in Woolworths.

Albert said: "We went to buy the ring and stopped for chips and sausage and Mary couldn’t wait to get home so that’s where I put the ring on her finger."

They settled into life in Wilmslow in 1972, Albert was a long-distance driver and Mary worked in Handforth Co-op.

And they devoted their time to their five children.

Janet, 50, a mother of three, of Wallingford Road, said: "Dad used to spend time at the Legion and they both used to bowl but their main thing is the family.

"They dote on each other."

And on her own family-orientated union with her sister’s brother in law, she said: "We are one a big happy family."

Albert and Mary will give their diamond anniversary the recognition it deserves with a party in the New Year.

Albert added: "We still feel like we did 60 years ago."