Former Devizes couple Frank and Molly May put the success of their marriage down to having a sense of humour.

The couple celebrate their diamond wedding today.

They are both from Swindon originally and they met at a dance in the town through a mutual friend when they were teenagers.

They courted for six years which included Mr May’s two year spell in the Army serving in Singapore. He was a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

They marred at Christ Church in Swindon and lived in the town. Mr May, 83, briefly worked at the Great Western Railway works in the town but left to join Wiltshire Police.

He served as a constable for 26 years and was based in Swindon, Devizes, Malmes-bury and Chippenham.

The couple moved to Devizes in 1967 and lived in Sarum Drive followed by Tintern Road.

After leaving the police force Mr May set up his own driving school, called Tintern, and ran it for 20 years, retiring in his early 70s.

Mrs May was a housewife bringing up their three children. They also have eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

While in Devizes the couple were members of the twinning association and welcomed visitors from Mayenne in France and Waiblingen in Germany who stayed in their home and vice versa.

The couple moved to Avon Road, Melksham, three years ago and are members of Avon Cooper Social Club.

Mrs May, 84, said laughter was an essential part of a happy marriage.

She said: “We are always laughing and my advice is to enjoy everything and see the funny side.”