FREEMEN of Appleton who have dedicated years to the village are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

Sydney and Dorothy Edwards married on October 1, 1960, at St James Church in Latchford.

The couple have since become valued members of the parish.

Sydney, aged 79, has looked after the centre of the village for 30 years, including the war memorial, bawming tree, church, village hall grounds and the Lily Pits.

He was chairman of the village hall for a number of years, introducing a bowling green to the rear and, together with the committee, real ale.

Using his experience as a former police officer in Warrington, Sydney was also a speed watch volunteer for 12 years along with wife Dorothy, aged 81.

His career included being an area housing officer with Runcorn Development Corporation, the Commanding Officer of 1330 Warrington Squadron Air Training Corps and a Wing Staff officer based in Manchester.

Meanwhile, Dorothy has spent 32 years on Appleton Parish Council, five years on the board of governors at Appleton Thorn Primary School and nine years on the board of visitors at YOI Thorn Cross.

Sydney and Dorothy had two children, Katharine, and Jaqueline, who died aged four in 1969.

Katharine now lives in Vancouver with her husband and the pair's three grandchildren.

Penny Carroll, a friend of the couple, said: "Regarding the appreciation of the Warrington community, I know that Dorothy and Sydney assiduously attended all the Mayor's parades to St Elphin's Parish Church over the last 50-year time span.

"I would say the input which Dorothy gave to the parish council, prison, school governing body and church, and Syd equally in the environmental concerns he has shown, would make a text book picture of community involvement."