16214/3GAZETTE & HERALD: Diamond couple Dennis and Brenda Harding celebrated 60 years of marriage with a family meal at the Bell in Lacock on Sunday.

Both Chippenham born and bred, Mrs and Mrs Harding, of Hungerdown Lane, first met in town when Mr Harding was on leave from the Army.

Mrs Harding, 82, said: "He asked me if I wanted to go to the pictures with him and we took it from there."

They married at St Paul's Church on May 16 1945. Mr Harding, now 86, worked for Westinghouse before and after the Second World War, and Mrs Harding was a tea lady at the firm.

Mr Harding has been ill recently, but was well enough to celebrate the diamond wedding anniversary with the family.

Mrs Harding said: "We've had a lovely week. A lot of people have come to see us and we've had lots of beautiful flowers."

And the secret of their success? "Our marriage has lasted because there's always lots of give and take. I don't know what I'd do without him," said Mrs Harding.