South Tyneside couple relive their engagement ahead of their ruby wedding anniversary

A South Tyneside couple had a very special surprise ahead of about their ruby wedding anniversary.

Simonside couple Vince Callaghan and Carole Callaghan (née Lacey) were married on September 6, 1986 at St Stephen’s Church on South Shields’ Mile End Road.

The couple, now both 66, were engaged in April that year on the West Park bandstand in South Shields, where Vince had prepared a table with a musician.

The story was covered by the Gazette and the Callaghans have kept the cuttings.

Forty years on they had thought they were off to the Great North Feast in Bents Park.

However, their three daughters, Tabitha, Abigail and Kassandra, had used it as subterfuge to guide the pair back to the bandstand, where they were surprised to see a table laid with afternoon tea and champagne, festooned with bunting and heart-shaped balloons.

The afternoon to remember was made completed by the presence of the three daughters and partners, along with the couple’s four grandchildren, aged between six months and eight.

Carole, a former community nurse and Vince, an engineer, are now retired and will celebrate further with a holiday in Marrakesh. Their 1986 honeymoon was in Tunisia.

Carole said: “The whole family was supposed to be going to the food festival in Bents Park.

“My husband saw the hearts all round the bandstand and I said ‘I can guess what that’s about’ I think we both realised what was happening as soon as our daughter stopped the car.

“It was just lovely because all the family were there. It was so nice.”

Tabitha said: “They deserved a special celebration because they’re the best parents and always put their family first. They may be ‘retired’ but look after their grandchildren a lot and take real joy in it.

“We feel very lucky to have them as our parents.”

When Mr and Mrs Callaghan were married Boris Gardner was at number one on the charts with I Wanna Wake Up with You, with the Communards’ version of Don’t Leave Me This Way at number two.

Timothy Dalton had just been announced as the fourth James Bond. Highlander and Aliens were being shown in cinemas. September 1986 also saw the first episodes of both Casualty and Brush Strokes on television.