Love at first sight for couple

Bernard and Kathleen Brockbank from Schola Green Lane in Morecambe first set eyes on each other at the Winter Gardens in Morecambe and married in July 1955.

At the time they both worked at Storey’s in Lancaster,Kathleen in the pattern room and Bernard in the spreading department for suede.

The couple have three children, Kevin, Lorraine and Angela and one grandson.

They lived in a flat on Thornton Road in Morecambe, as well as Carleton Street in Morecambe. Kathleen, who has suffered from polio since the age of six and Bernard, were sitting tenants on a sheep farm at Scotforth Heights in Lancaster.

They moved to their current home on Schola Green Lane 33 years ago.

Bernard has been a keen breeder of exhibition budgies for 67 years.

He said: “In 1948 I was an apprentice grocer at T.D.Smith’s and I won a canary in a raffle.

“The canary was in the front window at home singing and a man saw it and said’I’ll swap the canary for two budgies’ and that’s how it started.

“My father got into it and he built a block of cages in the conservatory, My dad had his own aviaries and I had mine.

“We had a family of zebra finches and then it escalated.

“I now have 50 budgies.You have to have your own hobbies.”

Kathleen said: “The polio started when I was six-year-old. I got up and just fell straight down. An ambulance took me straight to the Ethel Hedley hospital in Windermere, where I had to stay for two years. I came out with calipers on and had to go in a wheelchair to school.

“When I was older and went out dancing, I took my calipers off.”

Kathleen retired at the age of 71 after working for 23 years as a cleaner.

Bernard said: “I’ve done more jobs than soft mick!

“I worked for the county council as a driver and finished up at Truckhaven but had to retire in 1992 after suffering a heart attack.

Bernard, 82, now cares for Kathleen and said: “I don’t mind, because part of it is my doing!”(the housework)

Bernard and Kathleen have always loved and adored dogs, and have two black toy poodles called Mitzy and Pip, who they dote on.

And as to the secret to a happy marriage, Bernard said: “Its pulling together and sorting any arguments out.”

Kathleen said: “Never go to bed unless your argument is finished with.”

Bernard added: “I don’t dwell on things.”