A RESPECTED former journalist and court reporter has shared the secret of 70 years of happy marriage after celebrating a platinum wedding anniversary with his childhood sweetheart.
Tony Bishop and wife Sheila, who married at St Mary’s Church in Kidderminster in 1956, marked their 70th wedding anniversary on Tuesday (September 22).
The couple, who now live in Hartlebury, met at the age of six when they both attended Bennett Street Primary School, before losing touch when they both passed their 11-plus exam and went to single sex grammar schools.
The pair would meet again when they were 16, when Tony sold Sheila a raffle ticket with which she won a box of Maltesers.
After leaving King Charles I School, Tony started his first job at the Kidderminster Shuttle, but after qualifying as a journalist he was conscripted and served in the RAF.
Two years later, he came home to marry his childhood sweetheart.
Tony and Sheila’s wedding at St Mary’s Church featured in the Kidderminster Shuttle – ‘The wind was in frolic when Shuttle reporter Tony Bishop married Sheila Nash at St Mary’s church in Kidderminster’ (Image: Supplied)
He later went on to work for the Express and Star.
He covered the ‘Trial of the Century’ in 1979 involving Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe and scooped an exclusive interview with his alleged lover Norman Scott who had connections to Wolverhampton.
And Tony was also there when Pope John Paul II made his first visit to Ireland in 1979.
Fast forward 70 years after their wedding, the pair shared the secrets to a long and happy marriage, with Tony praising Sheila’s amazing support whilst his career as a journalist developed, and Sheila highlighting the importance of keeping life ‘interesting’.
“She was an amazing support. Her love and immense capability in running a home, a job and bringing up the children alongside me was amazing,” Tony said.
“We’ve had very few cross words and are still here 70 years on.”
Sheila added: “Tony was always busy with his job – in the day and out in the evenings covering council meetings and football matches.
“Learning about the different stories and people Tony spoke to gave us all an interesting life and inspired both our children to follow him into journalism.
“I got involved in village life, the WI, set up a flower and drama club and then qualified as a teacher and started a business with a talented and dear friend, Jackie Emeny.
“I thought if I didn’t find things to do, I would be bored and be boring to come home to.
Tony and Sheila (Image: Supplied)
“Maybe that’s how we’re still married after 70 years. Life should be interesting.”
Tony and Sheila celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary with a family meal with their children Naomi and Chris at the Dog in Harvington and are planning to continue the celebrations with family, including grandchildren and their great-granddaughter this weekend.
