Sheffield Blitz survivors who met while 'gliding across the dance floor' celebrate 65th wedding anniversary

Peter Wolstenholme, aged 86, and his wife Margaret, aged 90, ‘known as Madge to most, married at St Theresa’s church on Prince of Wales Road, Manor, on August 10 in 1957.

After which, they enjoyed a ‘traditional boiled ham salad wedding breakfast’ – according to Peter – before honeymooning in France the following day.

Pete, a retired electrical maintenance engineer for Osbourne Mushet Tools and an accomplished photographer, said: “We left Sheffield Midland Station at midnight the same day, standing in the corridor all the way to London.

"Arriving in London early Sunday for morning mass at Westminster Cathedral followed by a train journey to New Haven and Ferry to Dieppe.”

Pete has vivid memories of World War Two - and the Blitz.

When Pete was five-years-old he remembers travelling down The Moor with his father on the tram to see his aunt who lived in Millhouses.

He remembered passing Lansdowne Picture Palace ‘as it was known then’ which later became Tiffany’s and is now the Budgens Forge supermarket.

Pete recalls: “We passed Blitzed buildings on both sides of the Moor then saw this strange Far Eastern styled Palace, unlike any other building I had seen.

“Marks and Spencer took over the building after their store on The Moor was destroyed in The Blitz in December 1940.“

Little did this five year old boy realise that he would meet his wife to be in that building, some years later. A love of dancing would bring this young couple together.

He said: ”During the 1950s Mecca formed the Locarno Sunday Club enabling members to dance on a Sunday evening when all other dance venues were closed.

“I attended ballroom dancing lessons at the Arcadia Dance class in The Chantrey, Woodseats.”

He added: “Margaret attained Bronze & Silver Medal status at the Connie Grant Studio in Sheffield and when I saw her gliding across the dance floor I had to ask her for a dance.”

Pete and Madge planned to celebrate their Blue Sapphire wedding anniversary with family in a celebration held in their garden.

Pete said: “The children will come throughout the day, because they all have working careers.

I am hoping the weather's fine, we’ll get into the garden, into some fresh air.”