A Bury couple who devoted their lives to the community have celebrated a milestone anniversary.

Roy and Margaret Turner, who first met as children in Lowercroft, celebrated their 70th anniversary at home with friends and family last week.

In the decades leading to their Platinum Anniversary, the couple have given many years of service to Christ Church Ainsworth, the place where they were married in 1952 after Roy returned from service in the army.

Roy, 94, undertook various voluntary roles, including 20 years as the church Sexton at the age of 90, he also served as President of the Radcliffe Lions Club for almost 3 decades.

Margaret, 90, also played an important part at Christ Church, spending four decades as the church organist until she retired in 2018.

Bury Times: Margaret Turner during her time as a church organist. Photo: Jenny Johnson Margaret Turner during her time as a church organist. Photo: Jenny Johnson (Image: Jenny Johnson)

In 2007, Roy and Margaret attended a Royal Maundy Service at Manchester Cathedral where Roy was thanked for his years of service to the church.

“I got this letter telling me my name had been put forward for the Maundy Money, it was from Buckingham Palace.

“It was at Manchester Cathedral where I received it, it was 81 pieces of silver.”

Roy and Margaret have three children, Jenny, John and Susan, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Margaret, who lives with Parkinson's disease, is cared for at home by her husband and her daughter Jenny.  

Bury Times: Roy and Margaret on their wedding day. Photo: Jenny JohnsonRoy and Margaret on their wedding day. Photo: Jenny Johnson (Image: Jenny Johnson)

Following retirement, both Roy and Margaret remain valued members of their community, and friends and family from near and far came to celebrate their special day with them.

Their daughter, Jenny Johnson, said: “We had neighbours calling, relatives and people from the church came.

“We had a distant relative come all the way from Northumberland, it was just out of the blue.”

Reflecting on his life with Margaret, Roy said: “we’ve had a good life up until now, we try and understand one another.”

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