She first met her future husband Jeff on Bonfire night Nov 5th 1950. They went on a few dates to the local cinema but Barbara liked dancing and Jeff liked cycle racing so they called it a day and met again when Jeff was half way through his National Service in the Army aged 22. They started courting and were married at St Cuthbert’s Church in Chester-Le-street on Jeff’s 25th Birthday March 25th 1961 49 years ago.