LONG life and marital harmony reign supreme in the St Helens borough -judging from the fabulous response to my recent challenge, aimed at finding the local couple who have been wed the longest and who have the highest combined age.

Moss Banker Paddy Gray first set the ball rolling (this page, August 6) by raising the intriguing "double longevity" poser.

Response has been swift. And front runners so far are Harold Worsley (90) and his 92-year-old wife, Elizabeth, who will have been wed 70 years on Christmas Day. Their combined age is an incredible 182 years!

The couple were put forward as challengers for this special accolade by proud daughter Rita, of Millom Grove, Grange Park, who adds that they have lived in Thatto Heath for all of their married life.

It would appear that Parr is a healthy place to live in. For there are two close challengers from that particular district who are neck and neck for runners-up spot.

Also boasting a combined age of 182 years, but married three years fewer than the Worsleys, are 92-year old George Gomme and his wife, Mabel (90) from Monmouth Grove, Parr. Mabel's sister, Joyce Astbury of Hoghton Road, Sutton, informs us that the happy couple celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on July 4 this year. But they were just pipped to the altar by Jack and Nellie Gannon who have a combined age of 180 and marked their 67th anniversary last May.

Jack (89) and Nellie (91) were wed at St Vincent de Paul Church, Derbyshire Hill. They still live within a stone's throw of the church where they took their vows in1931.

Son Les, from Birnam Drive, Rainhill, says his dad married "the girl next door". And, although not enjoying the best of health over the past few years, the couple still live "most independently." Les adds: "They are thought of as very special people by their regular visitors . . . immediate family, relatives and friends."

A few years behind the main challengers, but still well worthy of mention are another couple who, if family genes are anything to go by, might eventually outstrip all opposition.

Mr and Mrs James Burrows from Parklands, Rainford, have a combined age of 163 and have been married for almost 62 years.

James (81) now nicely recovering from serious illness, is a nephew of the late Alderman Billy Burrows, a legendary St Helens character who died in very recent times at well over a hundred years old.

The couple's grandaughter, Mrs E. Harmsworth of Marylebone Avenue, St Helens, says that grandad James was in a serious condition in hospital when the couple reached their Diamond Wedding landmark almost two years ago. "Therefore," explains their grandaughter, "we never placed a notice in your paper. However, he is now up and about again and it would be wonderful if you gave my grandparents a mention."

(Only too pleased to oblige, Mrs H !)

The couple have two children, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. And, in mentioning the Billy Burrows factor, Mrs H signs off cheerfully: "If such longevity runs in the family, then maybe my grandparents aren't the oldest married couple now, but they may be one day!"

WITH further correspondence still anticipated, I'll be keeping customers of this cobwebby column informed of any possible changes to the pecking order concerning this fascinating subject.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.