John Hennessey and Doreen Stephenson met at the Palace Picture House in Wingate (a very popular place for courting couples in those days). Doreen was 16 from Hesleden and John from Station Town was 18.
Doreen worked at Nimmo’s Brewery in Castle Eden and for GEC at Hartlepool on the telephone assembly line. John left school at 15 and started work at a pig and poultry farm at Elwick. A year later he followed in his father’s footsteps down the mine (even though he begged him not to) starting work at Wingate Colliery aged 16. After 7 years John joined the RAF as a regular airman as an armament mechanic, he was stationed at RAF Waddington and in 1962 was posted to Singapore.
In the same year on 14th July John and Doreen were married in St. Joseph’s R.C. Church at Blackhall. On 5th August John flew to Singapore and Doreen followed in October. They spent 2½ years there and their son Stephen was born in Changi Hospital.
John’s service with the RAF ended in 1964 and they returned to the UK. They first lived in Peterlee and after a couple of years settled in Newton Aycliffe where John worked at Lehman, Archer & Lane and Tallents. In 1969 he moved to Black & Decker and stayed for 28 years until redundancy and retirement at the age of 61.
Doreen’s first job was as a home help, followed by a spell at GEC finally working part-time at Barclays Bank as an office cleaner.
In his younger days John played football for Wingate Wanderers alongside his brother Joe. He also played in the RAF team. After football he took up golf, winning a few trophies along the way. He enjoys keeping fit and relaxes by painting in water colours and growing fuscias. He is a self-taught pianist and loves to sing along whilst playing the piano. John is a sociable character and enjoys his regular Friday nights at The Navy Club where he has a pint, a game of snooker and a bit ‘craic’. He is an accomplished snooker player and won trophies for the Southerne Club.
Doreen’s interests are more home based: baking, jigsaws, flower arranging, gardening, painting and decorating and she excels at complicated knitting. John and Doreen have three children and two grandchildren all of whom joined them for their Golden Wedding Anniversary. As part of their celebrations John and Doreen are looking forward to week’s holiday in The Isle of Wight, their favourite holiday destination.
