Diamond duo help at St Richard's

ks16000529-2 Eric and June Hawkins from Chichester celebrate their diamond wedding today

The couple, who regularly help out at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, have lived in the same house all their married life.

June, 83, said the house, in Grove Road, belonged to her grandmother and it was their home while Eric was doing his National Service.

“We started doing things to the house, so it is nothing like it was, and as the children got older, they didn’t want to move because they were settled at school,” she added.

Eric and June on their wedding day, March 24, 1956

“We have always loved it here. We love being by the sea and it is also convenient for getting to London.”

The couple, who were both born in Chichester, married at St George’s Church, Whyke, on March 24, 1956.

They have two sons, Stephen and Mark, and four grandchildren.

Eric, 81, helped to form the walking group, Chichester HeartSmart, but has had to give up recently due to a hip replacement operation.

The aim of the group is to provide free walks, accredited by Walking for Health, to help residents discover more of the great outdoors.

Eric was one of the original walk leaders when the group was set up in 2002.

He has always had a love of walking and as a local lad, he enjoyed passing on his knowledge of the area during his walks, taking people further afield in the summer but keeping close to the city centre in the winter.

The couple still enjoy their hospital work and spend the day there.

They will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a party at The Sportsman in Amberley on Sunday.

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