THE photograph of newly-wed Rita Watson proved to be the icing on the cake when it was judged nationwide wedding picture of the year in June 1956.

For the prize money – a whopping £25 – enabled Rita (maiden name was Summersgill) and her bridegroom, Norman, to afford a deposit on a new home, a caravan.

They parked it up in a field in Henlow, Bedfordshire, from where they both cycled to work at the nearby RAF station, Norman being an RAF electrician and Rita having a job in the NAFFI.

They were there for about a year, Rita bringing home her first child, David, to the caravan.

"You didn't get quarters until you had a child and we wanted to be together rather than live in barracks," said 81-year-old Rita, who together with Norman, 81, are celebrating their 60th wedding.

The couple, who live in Giggleswick, met when pupils at Brougham Street School in Skipton, and married in Christ Church, Skipton.

Before her marriage, Rita, a soprano, had been a popular singer in Craven performing her repertoire of songs, opera and church music, accompanied by her friend, Audrey Bancroft.

Norman's career included a 12-month stint on Christmas Island during the time of the atomic bomb tests, and he was involved in Operation Grapple, where he recalls seeing and hearing a test explosion.

He said: "I've never experienced anything like it in my life.

"We were 30 miles away from where the weapon went off, which was exploded 600ft above ground to make the biggest impact."

Later, the couple were stationed in Singapore, where Rita had two more of her four children, and then in Ballikelly, Northern Ireland,where Norman had to oversee the readiness of four V-bombers at the height of the Cold War.

Rita, Norman and their children – David, Keith, Helen and Linda – moved back to Yorkshire in 1974 and settled in Giggleswick, Norman working for the North West Water Authority as a manager and Rita taking on the role of a home help, Sunday school teacher and lunchtime assistant at Giggleswick Primary School.

Norman, who helped back stage with Settle Operatic, enjoys woodturning and Rita attends St Akelda's Church. Both enjoy baking.