15093/01FORMER Marlborough dairyman Bill Harris and his wife Glad joyously celebrated 60 years of marriage on January 6.

Mr and Mrs Harris, of George Lane, celebrated their significant landmark with a party for family and friends at the Castle and Ball Hotel on Saturday.

Alfie Johnson, Marlborough's town crier, was master of ceremonies at the diamond anniversary dinner.

Mr Harris, 78, and his wife, 79, were teenage sweethearts in their

native London having met at a youth club when they were both 14.

Despite almost half a century in Wiltshire the couple still retain their Cockney accents and sense of

humour.

They were married at St Mark's Church in Finsbury in 1945 when Mr Harris was young soldier.

He said he had a 36-hour pass from his unit but was still arrested twice by military police both on his way to his wedding and, afterwards, on his way back because they thought he was absent without leave.

Their honeymoon, Mrs Harris

recalled, was one night in the two rooms that became their first home. She said: "He was only home for one night."

After his demob, Mr Harris worked as a plumber and his wife as a machinist.

They were persuaded there was more money in dairying and moved to Codford St Mary in West Wiltshire in 1958 to run a dairy.

With his late brother, Roy, Mr

Harris took over the former Church Farm Dairy in Kingsbury Street in 1962 where they were helped by their late father, Sam, who was known to everyone as Pop.

As well as running milk floats from the dairy to serve a wide area around Marlborough they also ran a provisions store in what is now Godot's restaurant-bar.

The dairy business moved to Elcot Lane and closed in about 1994.

Roy Harris continued to run the shop in Kingsbury Street until about 1983.

Mr and Mrs Harris live with their one daughter, Linda.