A FORMER Killyleagh couple have celebrated their diamond anniversary.
David and Joan Hannon marked 60 years of wedded bliss on July 21 — 60 years after they married at Dundonald Presbyterian Church.
Now living in Gloucester to be closer to their daughter’s family and their two sons and their families in London, the couple spent 20 years living in Killyleagh followed by 10 years in Derryboy.
David, a retired managing director of Downtown Radio and former BBC broadcaster and producer, was 30 years old when he married the love of his life, Joan, when she was 26.
Parents to Patrick, Liz and Tony, the couple have three grandchildren and will mark their anniversary with a number of family celebratory events.
While they left the district around 10 years ago, the couple still retain close local ties with Killyleagh Parish Church and other former interests and associations they were involved in.
Speaking from their home in England, David said: “I’ve absolutely been blessed with my darling wife. She has great patience with me and has been my strength all these years.”
Joan, now 86, added: “It’s hard to realise that we have been married for 60 years as you don’t really see yourself as older even though you have aged.
“I think it’s been very important to David and I that we both had our work and interests independent of one another and then interests that we both shared.”
David served on the select vestry of Killyleagh Parish Church and on the diocesan synod for Down and Dromore, as well as the General Synod for the Church of Ireland. He was also asked to serve on several special church committees.
Joan was heavily involved in the organisation of the annual World Day of International Prayer and served on its Irish committee representing the Church of Ireland, often travelling throughout the world to attend events and conferences.
Aside to his professional life and church involvement, David is also the author of five inspirational, self-help style books, the first, Start — to WIN! published in 1994 with his last book, Success its as simple as ABC.
The book that he described as “putting his heart and soul” into writing was a biography on his late father, the Rev Gordon Hannon.
Published in 2004, Gordon Hannon Some Parson! Some Man: A Biography tells of the life of times of David’s father who retired as rector of Kilbroney Parish Church.
A master bridge player, David still plays bridge in England, having played for years in his local bridge club in Killyleagh and served as president of the Irish Bridge Union.