30153A COUPLE who were born and bred in Trowbridge celebrated 70 years of marriage yesterday. Ken Grist, 94, and his wife Gwendoline, 90, met at a fair in Trowbridge and married at St Thomas' Church.

The couple had two children, Heather, who died in her 40s and Angela. They also have four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. During the Second World War Mr Grist worked for Hadens, making aircraft parts.

After the war he worked for several companies before becoming a precision engineer with Royal Enfield at Westwood for 20 years.

When the firm closed down Mr Grist decided to keep himself busy with a part-time job at Knees of Trowbridge. It was only supposed to be temporary but he stayed for 20 years, retiring aged 87.

Mrs Grist worked in the cloth industry until the mills closed down, then for food firm Waldens, retiring at 68.

Mrs Grist said: "We have had a very happy life. We had our little tiffs but have never really argued."