Morecambe Brass Band stalwart and wife celebrate 60 years of marriage

Bernard and Barbara Vause mark 60 years of marriage on Thursday September 5.

The pair were married by Bernard's father, then minister at Castleford Congregational Church in Yorkshire, where they lived at the time.

The couple have since moved homes several times as Bernard's job changed, although he has now been happily retired for more than 34 years.

As a physics teacher Bernard taught at Burnley, Morecambe and West Bromwich Grammar Schools before promotion to deputy head at Central Lancaster High School.

Bernard and Barbara have now lived in Morecambe for more than 53 years and say they would not wish to live anywhere else.

The couple have been blessed with two children, Mark and Ruth, who are also both teachers.

On Saturday August 31 the pair were joined by more than 100 friends at an anniversary party in Torrisholme Methodist Church, where Bernard is still church organist.

They have been inundated with cards, including a very special greeting from the King and Queen.

With Bernard as organist and a member of Morecambe Brass Band, music has played a central part in Bernard and Barbara's married life together, an involvement marked in May when Bernard was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in recognition of 50 years' service to music in Morecambe.

Bernard said: "The secret of a long married life...love, and, as church members all our lives that’s where it has grown and matured.

"Who knows, we might even reach our 70th anniversary.

"Thankfully, the future rests where it has always rested…with God!"