A Mouse Catcher who caught a wife!

When young Percy Wallis first met the pretty girl he was to spend his life with, he was in no mood for romance.

For he was visiting Harlaston vicarage to try and trap a mouse that had been seen in the ktchen there.

On that day, more than half-a-century ago, Percy not only trapped a mouse, but also caught himself a wife.

For, while waiting for the mouse to appear, he started chatting to a yound girl called Winifred who worked for the vicar and his wife. They soon became firm friends and that friendship blossomed into love. A few years ater the couple were married in Winifred's home town, Madeley.

Today, Winifred and Percy, both aged 74, have every excuse to look back over their long life together. For they have just celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

The couple live in Churchside, Harlaston, the village where they have lived all their married life.

Percy recalled the day they met: "I'd been singing in the church choir and the vicar's wife asked me if I'd come and trap a mouse she had seen in her kitchen. I never expected I'd meet my future wife there.

Born and bred in the village, Percy spent his 56-year-long career working as a herdsman at the local Manor Farm.

Last year he recieved the BEM medal recognising his service to farming.

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And Percy's expertise in his field of farming is demonstrated by an impressive display of shields inside his home. They have been won over the years for his herds of short-horn cattle. 

Although he is retired, Percy still enjoys doing the odd jobs at Manor Farm.

Winifred is also very involved in village life and has always taken a great interest in local church activities.

"We really are very lucky," she said, "We've had a lovely life together and we're just as happy today as we have ever been."

The couple have one son and three grandsons who they visited for a celebration tea on their Golden Wedding day.