AN ABERGELE COUPLE who fell in love after an accidental date are to celebrate 60 years of marriage.
John and Mary Allen, both 80 from Abergele, will gather for a party with friends and family on Sunday to mark their diamond anniversary.
The Allens, who are originally from Birmingham, grew up next door to each other but romance only blossomed when another woman refused John’s offer for a dance date.
John said: “I had two tickets to a dance, but the young lady didn’t like me very much and my sister asked Mary next door.”
The couple tied the knot in 1951, holding a white wedding despite the fact that rationing was still in place.
Mary said: “We used clothing coupons. I borrowed a wedding dress and veil and my two youngest sisters had old bridesmaid dresses with net covers on them. It was that sort of time, but it didn’t spoil the day.”
John joined the RAF as part of national service after World War Two and later worked in the transport industry, while Mary went on to become an operator of early punch card computers.
Mary said: “It was right at the cutting edge of technology at the time, but the machines I used are in the museum in Birmingham now.”
The couple, who have two children, moved to Abergele after “falling in love with the area”.
John said: “this is our Costa Del Sol.”
John said: “We always got on very well together. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we had a lot of joy.”
Mary summed their secret up as: “Better the devil you know!”