Harborough Theatre stalwart takes centre stage as she and her husband celebrate 60 years of marriage

A Harborough Theatre stalwart is strutting centre stage herself as she celebrates being married for an incredible 60 years.

Vivien Window, 79, will mark her diamond wedding anniversary to her beloved Aussie husband Alan, 80, on Thursday May 21.

Drama may be in short supply as the devoted couple cap a remarkable six decades of married life during the Covid-19 lockdown.

But Vivien, who is president of Harborough Theatre, and Alan are looking forward to a heartwarming get-together with their loved ones once the coronavirus crisis has passed.

And to mark the occasion, the local vicar is going to bless them over the garden fence in the afternoon.

Their son Alan, 58, of Desborough, told the Harborough Mail: “We are all very proud of our mum and dad.

“It’s an enormous achievement to be married for 60 years.

“They are still very active, energetic people - and they love each other as much now as they did when they first met.”

The NHS IT expert added: “It’s a shame that they are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary in the middle of this virus crisis.

“We’d have loved to have taken them out for a swanky family meal in Harborough.

“As it is I’ll just have to talk to them across the fence and make the best of it.

“But I’m sure we’ll get together as soon as we can and enjoy a proper celebration.”

Alan said his parents tied the knot at the Methodist Chapel at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Laverton, near Melbourne, on May 21, 1960.

“My mum was born at the old Cottage Hospital on Coventry Road, Market Harborough.

“She emigrated to Australia with her family as so-called £10 tourists.

“Mum met my dad when he was serving in the RAAF,” said the dad-of-one.

“They quickly fell in love and moved back here to Harborough when I was 16.

“I attended Robert Smyth school before going on to Leicester University and I’ve made my home here ever since.”

Alan said Vivien, of Little Bowden, had played a major part at the ever-popular Harborough Theatre for over 40 years.

“She trod the boards as an actress in plays at the town centre theatre from the late 1970s onwards and loved it.

“She’s done all sorts there and even written play reviews for the Harborough Mail while my dad was also heavily involved,” he said.

“Mum’s now president there while they are both very active at Little Bowden Church too.

“They were also fantastic foster parents – and must have fostered dozens of children over the years.”

Alan said his sister Selma, 49, who now lives in Byron Bay, New South Wales, and brother Michael, 47, who lives in north Leicestershire, were both adopted.

He also has a younger brother Colin, 56, in London while his parents also have five grandchildren.

“I’d go so far as to say that our mum and dad have been real pillars of society in Market Harborough.

“We couldn’t have had better parents and they are right at the very heart of our family,” said Alan.