A couple who spent their working lives running fish and chip shops together have celebrated six decades of being married.

Cambs Times: Harry and Brenda Hobbs celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on August 1. Harry and Brenda outside their Gracious street Whittlesey fish and chip shop in the 1970s. Picture: Steve Williams.Harry and Brenda Hobbs celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on August 1. Harry and Brenda outside their Gracious street Whittlesey fish and chip shop in the 1970s. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

Harry and Brenda Hobbs are well known across the area having run shops at Wisbech, Whittlesey, Stanground and Peterborough.

Mr Hobbs, 83, began his career by working for his uncle at Routs fish shop in Wisbech after which he began his own wet fish round in the town.

After getting married in All Saints Church in Walsoken in 1955, however, he realised he needed to earn more money and moved to Perkins Engines in Peterborough.

The fish trade was in his blood though and after six years he left Perkins to manage a fish and chip shop in Oundle, followed by a move to Wisbech to work at Reg Rushton fish and chip shop in Lynn Road.

Cambs Times: Harry and Brenda Hobbs celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on August 1. Harry and Brenda on their wedding day.. Picture: Steve Williams.Harry and Brenda Hobbs celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on August 1. Harry and Brenda on their wedding day.. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

In 1965 the couple opened their own shop in Gladstone Street in Peterborough followed by a shop at The Parade in Stanground.

The Brenhar fish bar was well known and loved in the area and it ran from 1967 to 1987.

In the meantime they opened a fish and chip shop in Grace’s Street Whittlesey in 1975 which was run by their son for about five years.

In 1987 they also opened a shop in Fletton High Street in Peterborough.

Mr Hobbs said: “Wherever we go everybody seems to know us and say, didn’t you run Brenhar’s. It was busy but a great life. We worked hard together. I think Brenda perhaps worked harder than me!

“My grandson now runs Wootton Fish Bar in King’s Lynn and I still sometimes go over there to help him out. I still like to keep my hand in.”

He said they put their happy marriage success down to working together, keeping busy and sticking at it.

“A lot of people give up too soon,” he said.

The couple have two sons, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.