Penpal sweethearts from Sheffield set to celebrate diamond wedding anniversary

Shirley and Jack Godley are set to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary

John “Jack” Godley, was serving as a Seaman, first class, at HMS Ganges, in Ipswich, when he received a pen pal letter from Shirley Kerrigan which had originally been intended for another sailor.

But, it was a letter that saw their relationship set sail – and now the couple are looking forward to celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary together.

Long-serving community volunteer who fought to improve Sheffield's Wybourn estat...

Shirley Kerrigan and John Godley after a year of separation on the aircraft carrier Centaur in Plymouth harbour on April 28, 1960

They will mark the momentous occasion at their Stocksbridge home this Thursday, April 30, and while they aren’t able to celebrate with their family as planned it will still be a day filled with love.

The couple’s youngest daughter Debra, 41, said: “They are fantastic parents and we are so upset as a family we aren’t able to celebrate with them. I ring them daily and it’s heartbreaking for me not being able to kiss or cuddle them.

“Once the lockdown is over we’ll be having a family meal with all the children and grandchildren, that’s initially what we had planned.”

Jack was just 15 when he joined the Royal Navy, and despite attending the same Parson Cross school as Shirley, the pair had never crossed paths.

Jack and Shirley now have 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren

Things would change in 1957 when Shirley joined a pen pal scheme writing to a Navy sailor who, inundated with replies, passed Shirley’s letter on to Jack knowing he was from Sheffield.

Reading the letter, Jack realised that Shirley lived just around the corner from him on Colley Crescent and their relationship quickly blossomed.

But, it would be a year until the pair could meet in person, first setting eyes on each other while Jack was on leave from his tour in the Far East.

Despite being far apart the pair kept the romance alive and would go out whenever Jack was at home, during which he wrote to Shirley’s dad George asking for his permission to marry his daughter to which he gave his blessing – later proposing and buying a ring on his next leave home.

Shirley and John on their wedding day at Ecclesfield Church on April 30, 1960

Planning the wedding, however, was not plain sailing. It had been due to take place in early 1960 when Jack was due back in Sheffield, but his leave was delayed and the wedding had to be moved.

It was rearranged a total of three times as trouble had broken out while Jack was on tour. Shirley recalls the vicar thought she was crazy rearranging so many times.

Jack eventually arrived into Portsmouth on the aircraft HMS Centaur on April 28, 1960, and the pair married at Ecclesfield Church two days later, honeymooning in Blackpool.

They quickly settled into married life, Jack going back on tour and Shirley to her job as an addressograph, and briefly moved to Scotland before returning to Sheffield in time for the birth of their first child, Karen, in 1961.

The lovebirds went on to have four more children – Kevan, Donna, Lisa, and Debra. They now have 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to The Star website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.