Silver Wedding joy for our former Bride of the Year Julie West and husband Graham

TUCKED inside Julie and Graham West's box of wedding photos is a very special photo.

It shows a young man planting a kiss on the cheek of a bubbly blonde. The picture was taken by a Press photographer at our former offices on Walmgate to celebrate Julie being named our Bride of the Year.

It was back in 1990 and Julie remembers the details as if it was yesterday. Unknown to Julie, her late mum, Maggie Deighton, had entered the competition on her behalf.

"Mum got the phone call to say I'd won, then came round to our house. When I saw my mum standing there, I thought my granny had died. She said: 'you'd better get dressed, the Press want you'."

Better still, Julie and her mum thought they had only won one prize - a pair of wedding shoes. In fact, Julie had won the Bride of the Year package which included a wedding dress, shoes, wedding cake and stationery and a visit to the hairdressers, worth around £800.

It was a great boost for Julie and Graham, who met on a double date when teenagers and had been engaged for five years. "I was chuffed to bits," recalls Julie, now 48. "It was a big thing. It's not very often someone wins a wedding!"

It allowed them to bring their wedding forward - to August 11 that year. But there was just one hitch. Graham then worked at Terry's and the big day was at the end of Factory Fortnight, when the plant closed down and workers had to take two week's leave. Graham, now 49, said: "It meant there was no honeymoon - I had to be back at work on Monday!"

But there have been holidays a plenty since, with regular family trips to Majorca with their three children: Lauren, 22, Brooke, 18 and Mason, 13.

Julie and Graham with their three children: Lauren, Brooke and Mason, at a wedding in Cyprus in 2010

The couple, who life in Rawcliffe, are also planning to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary next month with a huge party for around 150 people.

They share a love of Mod music and follow local bands such as 5:15's and The Skapones. Graham lovingly looks after a Lambretta scooter and they like to attend bike rallies in Scarborough and Bridlington. They love Northern Soul too and will have soul singer Little Gem perform at their wedding anniversary party.

Julie and Graham were married at St Luke's Church on Burton Stone Lane - with six bridesmaids wearing matching peach dresses aged from four to 22. They held their reception at York City Supporters' Club on Bootham Crescent.

Graham and Julie West who are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary on August 11

For the past 22 years, Julie has worked as a health care assistant with the community out-of-hours district nursing team. Graham began working for Focus Fireplaces at Stockton-on-the-Forest following redundancy from Terry's. With Julie working nights, it meant they never needed childcare. It also meant that Graham had to do his fair share of domestic duties.

Julie said: "We are equal... he is the pack-up man!"

So what is the secret of their successful 25 years together?

Graham says: "It's give and take. We are not in each other's pocket. If she says she's going out, I say: 'have a good time'. If I go out, it's the same. It's all about team work."