Youth club lovebirds now married 60 years

Lionel and Vivian Charlton, who have lived in the same house in Haseley Knob for more than 40 years, celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary on July 29.

Vivian (nee Daffern) also grew up in the village and worked at the village shop and post office run by her parents Jim and Dolly. The former Balsall Common Secondary School pupil met Lionel, from Birmingham, at the youth club in 1953 and three years later, the couple married at Holy Trinity church in Hatton.

After spending some years living in a small cottage in Haseley, the couple moved into the home that Vivian’s parents built for them on the same plot of land - and they remain in that same home today.

Now retired, Vivian, who also worked at Benfords in Warwick, and Lionel, who worked for Jaguar and Lucas Girling, enjoy caravanning and spending time with their large family.

Lionel said: “When we first met, we both got on because of our quiet natures. Over the years, we have never had any serious arguments, but when we do argue, we always make up afterwards with deeds and thoughts.”