Newark couple married for 60 years receive card from old friend the Queen

A couple who were in rival bands when they met have celebrated 60 years as a married couple.

Michael and Pauline McGrady, of Newark, were due to have a party at the Palace Theatre.

Their son, Darren, who cooked for the Queen for 11 years before being poached by Princess Diana, was due to fly over from his home in the US to be chef for the occasion.

The couple were privileged to be invited to attend many garden parties or Buckingham Palace balls, so good was their son’s relationship with the monarchy.

The music lovers met as performers in carnival bands in the mid-Fifties.

Michael was an apprentice electrician and trumpeter in the Melton Mowbray Toy Soldiers while Pauline, who worked as a costumed John Player cigarettes promotions girl offering coupons at Butlins and in department stores, was a drummer in the Newark Cameronians.

“We used to compete against each other. The Cameronians were definitely the best as we went on to become triple champions,” said Pauline.

“I think he took a fancy to me.

“He used to come over from Melton, once, he walked all the way.”

They married on March 25, 1961, and had three children ­— Darren, Christopher and Sacha.

Sacha works for Royal Mail and hand delivered the card of congratulation from the Queen.

“We are fully opposites,” Pauline said of herself and her husband: “But we share everything ­— nothing is his, and nothing is mine.

“We do most things together.”