TODAY marks the diamond wedding anniversary of Valentines Tom and Cora Mason and the start of their triple celebration.

The couple, who didn't realise it was the year's biggest day for romance when they booked their ceremony in 1942, will have their 60 year marriage blessed in church on Sunday, the day after Cora's 80th birthday.

But this time there won't be a war time ration reception of spam sandwiches, the family has organised a slap-up meal at a Glazebrook restaurant.

The couple who met at a dance in Marsland Green school in 1940 married at the Holy Family RC Church, Boothstown, and had their reception at the Cart and Horses, Astley.

On Sunday their long and happy union will be blessed at St Ambrose Barlow RC Church by their good friend, the Rev Fr Arthur Mulcahy.

Cora, who was one of 13 children born in Scotland, and Tom, 83, still live in the Astley home where they have spent all their married life.

They have two sons Brian and Stuart, grandchildren Sarah, Andrew, Liam and Kimberley, Wendy and Vicky plus five great grandchildren.

Tom was born in Gin Pit village and after leaving Tyldesley Council School spent 47 years down the mines, starting in 1932 at Gin Pit. He moved on to Astley and retired from the Parsonage in 1980.

During his pit career he suffered serious injuries including a double leg fracture and fractured spine which kept him off work for two years.

Cora, of Dutch descent, was 16 when she moved with her parents to Astley. She recalled how her brothers, who regularly suffered accidents in Scottish mines, went to work for their brother-in-law, John Koppens, who managed a peat-cutting operation on Astley Moss.

But as soon as the war started they found themselves back down the pits.

Cora, who has a surviving 93-years-old sister in Scotland, spent her working life sewing at Burtons' Burtonville alongside the East Lancs Road at Moorside, Swinton.

She said: "My family moved into this house in February 1939 and the war started in September.

"Tom and I were courting for three years and fixed the wedding date without realising it was Valentine's Day.

"With the war on everything was rationed. All the family had to chuck in their clothing coupons to help me get my white wedding dress from Manchester and we did out best providing a reception under the circumstances."

Cora adds: "When we moved here it was so quiet, there were no cars and people used to stand at the gate and have a chat. Now all the original neighbours have died and we are at the stage now where we hardly know anyone. Times have changed and not always for the better.

"People are too busy working to bother these days, it's a pity.

"During wartime we didn't see much action in Astley. We used to watch the planes going over and were once walking near the hospital when the Germans dropped a bomb.

"We heard the sizzling sound and dropped to the ground. It missed the buildings and fell in a field, so thankfully nobody was injured."

Tom, who enjoys gardening, has recently taken over as chief pot and bottle washer to help house-proud Cora, now less active because of heart problems.

He said: "She taught me how to switch the washer on -- at 82."

Cora said: "My polishing days are now over, but Tom is doing alright. We have had a very happy marriage, we have been very lucky.

"Not many couples reach that milestone, these days they want a divorce if they have an argument.

"We can't be that romantic, we only put our first wedding picture up when a framed copy was given to us for our 54th anniversary.

"But we have been very good for one another, Tom has been a godsend for me and without him I wouldn't be here now. If we had to do it all over again we would.

"The secret is lots of give and take" and -- according to Tom -- "agreeing with everything she says!"