On the 31st March 2014, Alan and Marjorie Snowball received a visit from the Mayor Barbara Clare on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married at the Registry Office and it wasn’t possible to go away so they spent their honeymoon watching the film “High Noon”!
Marjorie was born in Bishop Auckland, but her family moved to Benwell when she was two and it was there, when she was 16, she met Alan while strolling through the local park.
Alan served his apprenticeship with Vickers Armstrong before being conscripted into the RAF for National Service where he served in Hong Kong.
He was demobed in 1963 and after taking over the Masons Arms in Etherley Dene for 2½ years moved to Newton Aycliffe to work for Woodhead Springs. He was a draughtsman and was employed by a few local engineering companies until he retired from Black & Decker in 1997.
Marjorie also worked at Aycliffe for Eatons and Toothills. In partnership with friends they once ran the “Hop & Grape” in Darlington.
Alan, a lifelong fan of Newcastle F.C. enjoys swimming and a game of pool at the British Legion Club. At home he paints and makes objects in wood and metal with his lathe, Marjorie is a typical housewife and mother, but does find time to tend the garden.
The couple have two sons, four grandchildren and three great granddaughters and the family all met up for a celebration party at the Village Inn at Kirk Merrington.
