See the anniversary celebrations as 27 grandchildren and great-grandchildren surprise Sunderland couple on their special day

Silksworth residents Stan and Sarah Pearson were over the moon when family and friends surprised them with a drive-by celebration on their wedding anniversary on Sunday, May 24.

The couple haven’t seen their family and friends for 10 weeks as they have been self-isolating at home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

And their loved ones wanted to make the day extra special for them, after they suffered the devastating loss of their son during the pandemic last month.

Graham Peason, passed away on April 5 at the age of 55, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer more than two years ago.

Stan, 83 and Sarah, 84, and their family weren’t able to hold a proper funeral or wake for him due to the social distancing measures.

But the couple - who have 27 grandchildren and great-grandchildren - couldn’t stop smiling at 12pm on Sunday when family and friends joined them to celebrate in the street.

“We wanted to do something special for them given the circumstances,” said granddaughter Sarah Fairley, 22, who lives with her grandparents and her mum Angela Pearson, 48.

“We couldn’t have a party like we normally do, so we got in touch with everyone and arranged for them all to drive by at midday and beep their horns, with balloons out of the car window.

“They were over the moon.”

Stan and Sarah married at St Matthew’s Church in 1958 at the age of 22 and 21, after meeting in their local pub - formerly known as the Dyke (now the Golden Fleece) – where Sarah was a barmaid.

Stan worked as a miner all his life and the couple went on to have six children.

Sarah said: “We want to thank all our friends and family who made the day special – particularly Lindsay Williams who had the idea and helped organise it all.

“It was a total surprise, I wasn’t expecting it at all and we’re still completely over the moon.”

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