COMMUNITY stalwart Mavis Burn has celebrated a landmark wedding anniversary with her teenage sweetheart.

Easington Village parish councillor Mavis Burn, first laid eyes on her husband Leslie when she started a job at the age of 16 at the village branch of the Murton Co-operative store. He worked with the store’s travelling shop at the time.

They immediately took a liking to each other and this week celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Cllr Burn, who turns 80 next week, said: “When I first saw Leslie I just liked him and that was that. We seemed to click. And we are still together.

“We all used to go to the dance at the Welfare Hall. Not that he danced a lot.”

It was a year before Mr Burn plucked up the courage and asked her out to a film.

Mr Burn, 84, said: “I went to do my National Service and when I came out in 1954, went back to the Easington Village branch of the Murton Co-operative.

“I was in the travelling shop, which was one of the first to go to Peterlee while it was still being developed.”

Cllr Burn added: “The village store was a hive of activity. Everybody was in the co-op. You saw everybody and met everybody.”

After marrying in November 1958, the couple left the store, with Mr Burn joining United, where he was a driver for four years, before working as a bus inspector for 21 years.

Cllr Burn said: “We had family straight away. When our Jeanette was six months old my mother managed her and I went to work in my aunt’s business at Laura’s Fashions. She brought the latest fashions to the people.”

Elected to the parish councillor in 1991, Cllr Burn also worked for Groundwork East Durham and was instrumental in getting its Discovery Centre off the ground.

Cllr Burn said: “I got artefacts and exhibitions going at the then Discovery Centre. I had a wonderful band of volunteers and it was a huge success.

“I was also organised art exhibitions at Seaton Holme, where we provided a showcase for dozens of local artists. I am proud to have the room named after me.”

The couple have a grandson Michael Walker, a keen cricketer, who is in Australia.