FORMER Selby district councillor David Jones and his wife Judith, who live in Cawood and are both well-known in the Selby area, have celebrated their golden wedding.

The couple met in St Anne’s, Lancashire, while attending the King’s Road Methodist Church, when Judith – a Wistow girl – was working in Lytham in the Land Registry Plan department, and David – who lived in St Anne’s – was working as an apprentice baker.

After a two-year courtship they were married at Wistow Methodist Chapel, and David worked in various bakeries in York before later moving into the earth-moving industry.

Judith worked for 19 years at York Minster as a calligrapher and later worked in the Minster shop.

Both have been heavily involved in community organisations, David being a district councillor for 12 years, and served as a Cawood parish councillor for 28 years.

A member of Selby Lions Club for 33 years and a past president, for 30 years he was organiser of the Great Selby Bike Ride, which has raised £275,000 for many charities. For the past ten years he has been chairman of the Cawood Craft Festival.

David is also one of the village flood wardens, a committee member of Selby Civic Society, chairman of the Selby Marie Curie Committee and a volunteer driver with Age UK.

He was a former Scout leader in Cawood and assistant district commissioner (Scouts).

Judith, a well-known local artist and flower arranger, is a member of Sherburn Art Club and Cawood art group, Cawood Bowls Club, secretary of Cawood In Bloom and a member of the village WI and a past president. She also does Yoga and is a member of the village walking group.

The couple have opened their garden for the past 13 years as part of the Cawood Garden Scheme, which raises money for the National Garden Scheme Charity, and also have private visits to their garden, all of which they have raised £20,000.

The couple, who have a daughter, son and grandson, held a party at their home for family and friends.