DIAMOND duo Harry and Joan Berry rolled back the years when Journal photographer Ian Park called to see them this week.

The Tyldesley couple, who today (Thursday) celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, took a trip back in time when they posed for a photograph with St George's Church in the background, just as they had done on March 7, 1953.

Mr Berry, aged 83, and his wife, aged 82, from Lune Street, are well-known in the town where they were born.

Joan was born in Castle Street, opposite what Was the Majestic Garage, and attended St George's School and then the Tyldesley senior Girls' School. Her first job was at the age of 14 at Boardman's furniture shop in Railway Road, Leigh. Two years later she went to work for Tyldesley Urban District Council in the Town Clerk's department and continued her clerical work at Dean's Reed Works in Elliott Street, Tyldesley and later at Welding Supplies in Shakerley Road, Tyldesley.

"Those 60 years have flown," said Joan, "nowadays my main interest is in my family and grandchildren. I used to spend a lot of time at cricket matches when Harry was playing."

Mr Berry was a renowned fast bowler and played for Astley and Tyldesley Collieries' Cricket Club and later captained Atherton CC. He was top bowler in the Bolton Association competition on four separate occasions.

Born in South Lane, Blackmoor Mr Berry went to Astley St Stephen's School and started work as a fitter at A & T's workshops at Gin Pit. He then worked as a surface fitter at Chanters Colliery, Hindsford, moved to Greenhalgh's foundry at Atherton then to Ward and Goldstone at Hindsford and retired from that firm's Hindley Green works.

The Berry's have a daughter, Lynda, and three grandsons, the eldest, Lee, played professional soccer with Crewe and Bury.

They intend to mark their anniversary with a celebration meal with family and friends.