A North Yorkshire police hero and his wife have marked a very special anniversary with a party at the care home where they now live together.
Retired police officer Ken Dale and his wife Betty celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary at the Alba Rose Care Home in Pickering.
The celebration was attended by the couple’s family and friends, as well as the Area Commander for Scarborough Police, Andrea Kell.
The couple met at a dance in Hutton Le Hole and were married 70 years ago, on 16th June 1951. They both say that a good helping of ‘give and take’ is the secret to a long and happy marriage.
Ken said Betty was an excellent wife and Betty agreed that she couldn’t have wished for a better husband than Ken.
The Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, Lisa Winward sent a special letter to the couple, which was read out by the Area Commander.
It included:
“I’d like to thank you Ken, for your dedication and exemplary service to North Yorkshire Police, and to you Betty for the strength and care that you will have provided Ken over the years in his career. You should be very proud of your service and the impact you will have made for so many residents of North Yorkshire over your 37-year duty.”
After a short period farming, Ken, 92, joined the police force in Filey in 1948 on what was to become the start of a distinguished 37-year career, during which he received the Queen’s Medal for Bravery.
His career took him to Sproatley, Beverley, Hornsea, Northallerton, Whitby, Richmond and finally to Scarborough as Chief Superintendent in the role of Divisional Commander for Scarborough region.
He was awarded The Queen’s Medal for Bravery, after disarming a man who was holding his wife hostage in a car packed with petrol cans and a hand grenade. His award was presented to him by the High Sherriff of North Yorkshire.
Ken retired from the police in 1985 and then got involved in local politics and served on North Yorkshire County Council for many years. Amongst other activities, Ken was a senior member of the St John's Ambulance Corps, having been involved with them during his police service. He received the order of St John, from the St John's Corps. He was also awarded the MBE. He was also involved as a School Governor, fundraising for The RNLI, YMCA, and worked for a Mental Health Trust, and as a Commissioner in The Boy Scouts.
Betty, 91, worked for a time at Boots in Scarborough and then left to get married and have her family.
The couple have two children, Stuart and Elizabeth, and four grandchildren, Laurence and Robert, Stuart's children, and Simon and Nick, Elizabeth’s children. They have four great-grandchildren.
Betty was very active in the WI, Local Conservative party, RNLI and St John's Ambulance, where she too was honoured with a lifetime achievement award. She also was active into her 80s with rhythmic dance and the couple enjoyed ballroom dancing together in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Alba Rose Registered Manager Tamyn Milton-Wright said:
“Ken and Betty are a lovely couple and it is an absolute privilege to be able to join them for this special celebration.
“They are so lovely. They come down and have breakfast together every morning. They still enjoy banter with each other, which is lovely. They are a real inspiration.”
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