Golden couple in 25th show
Golden Wolverhampton couple Fred and Pauline Whittingham are marking 50 years of happy marriage – by taking part in their 25th stage show together.
The Whittinghams are founder members of Oldfallings Players amateur operatic society. The group is now getting ready to celebrate its silver anniversary by putting on a production of Anything Goes between June 6 and 9.
And the Whittinghams, from Wednesfield, will be marking five decades of wedlock on June 8.
Pauline, aged 69, said Oldfallings Players had been rehearsing for their latest production, which will be held at Heath Park Business & Enterprise College, since Christmas.
"It's got beautiful music and the costumes are very good as well."
The Whittinghams met when Fred played the bugle at an event at Heath Town Congregational Church, where Pauline was a member.
Fred, aged 73, worked as an engineer at John Thompson Engineering in Wolverhampton and now works as a part-time technician at Heath Park Business & Enterprise College, in Prestwood Road.
Pauline was a maths teacher at the same school during her working life.
In their time at Oldfallings Players, they have worked on shows including The Wizard Of Oz, Oklahoma and South Pacific.
"We love it. My husband sings and he gets pleasure from that. But I'm only in the chorus," she joked.
The couple have three children and five grandchildren together and are celebrating their marriage milestone with a party at their daughter's house.
* Tickets for Oldfallings Players' production of Anything Goes cost between £6.50 and £7.50 and are available by calling 01902 737120. All performances start at 7.30pm.
