Flames of love...65 years ago

Sam Ellis met his future wife of 65 years at the Catcliffe Coronation bonfire in 1953.

They were married, aged 21 and 18 respectively, at Catcliffe Church on August 17 1957, with five bridesmaids adding to the sense of occasion.

Sixty-five years on, the couple celebrated their blue sapphire wedding anniversary with family and friends.

Daughter Mo Ellis: “My dad was an evacuee from London when he was four or five.

“He lived in Treeton and met my mum at the coronation bonfire in 1953.”

The couple lived in Catcliffe after getting married and moved to Brinsworth Road in Brinsworth six years ago.

They went on to have two sons and two daughters, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Mo said: ““My dad worked at Orgreave Colliery and mum was a bus conductor.

“They have always been so close.

“They brought us four up right and we are doing our best to pass that on.”