(Image: Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
A couple who volunteer at a city hospital are celebrating 50 years of marriage.
Lillian and Wayne Deakin, of Keighley, marked their golden wedding anniversary on September 18, and say the secret to their long and happy relationship is "faith, love, and laughter".
The pair, both regular volunteers at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI), help support patients and staff every Monday as part of the hospital’s Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care (SPaRC) team.
Mr Deakin, 76, said: "Christ is important in our lives, but we're also as daft as brushes and enjoy a good laugh.
Lillian and Wayne at their wedding in Keighley 50 years ago (Image: Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
"We love doing things together and don't like being away from each other.
"We celebrated our anniversary with a meal at the Airedale Heifer, which was simply lovely."
Wayne has volunteered at the hospital since 2019, spending time with patients on Wards 4 and 31.
Mrs Deakin, 71 - a former nurse - now volunteers on Wards 1 and 22.
She joined the SPaRC team after retiring from her role as a receptionist at St Luke’s Hospital.
Mrs Deakin said: "The recipe to a long and happy marriage is also love."
The couple met through Lillian’s Baptist church as teenagers and say it was "love at first sight."
Mr Deakin said: "I walked into a youth meeting at the Baptist church and Lillian was the first person I sat eyes on, and I’d never seen a more beautiful woman in my life.
"My legs were shaking.
"I went home and prayed that we’d meet again."
Lillian and Wayne Deakin, from Keighley, who volunteer at Bradford Royal Infirmary, are celebrating 50 years of marriage (Image: Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
Two weeks later, they saw each other again at a Baptist youth camp in Scarborough, where they were paired together for the week.
They married on September 18, 1976, at the United Reformed Congregation in Keighley and have lived in the area ever since.
Their dedication to helping others extends beyond the hospital.
Over the years, they have travelled to Zimbabwe eight times to do church and community work.
Mr Deakin said: "I enjoy talking to patients and staff.
"It's so worthwhile."
Mrs Deakin added: "There are so many links and connections when you talk to people.
"It's so lovely."
The couple, who were both born at St John’s Hospital in Keighley, say they plan to continue volunteering for as long as they are able.
They have been together for 55 years and said the connections they make with patients and staff are a big part of what keeps them coming back.