A Langcliffe couple who have played an active part in the life of two North Craven communities will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary today.

Chris and Nancy Ellis, who were married at Linton Church on September 6, 1952, have lived in Langcliffe for more than 50 years.

Chris, 84, is from Settle and Nancy, 86, grew up in Grassington . The couple met when they were both members of the Skipton Young Conservatives in the late 1940s.

The couple are long-time members of Langcliffe Church and have served on the Parochial Church Council for many years.

But they are also well- known in Settle, where they owned and ran FH Ellis Garage and the Car and Kitchen shop until the mid- 1990s.

Chris’s father was the first owner of FH Ellis Garage and although the couple have now sold the business, the Car and Kitchen shop is still being run by their daughter, Liz Meredith, of Settle.

Chris and Nancy have two other children – oldest daughter Jane Guest lives in a village near Hull, while their youngest child, Jill Lockier, lives in Australia. The couple have nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to running the two businesses, Chris and Nancy were active in the community. Nancy was a long-serving member of Inner Wheel and was president in 1972 – the same year that her husband was president of Settle Rotary Club. Chris has also been involved with Settle Chamber of Trade.