Ref. 28330-46Margaret and Mick Rouse literally bumped into each other outside a cinema 60 years ago and have been together ever since.

Today the couple, who live in who live in Berenger Close, Old Town, will be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

But they very nearly never met at all.

"It was during the war in 1943, in Gloucester," recalled 83-year-old Margaret.

"My friend and I used to go to the cinema a lot and one night, as we came out, there were lots of people standing around.

"We tried to walk around them and two men bumped into us.

"We started talking to them and one of them was Mick. We married later that year."

Soon after the wedding in Gloucester Register Office Mick, now 83, was sent to India with the RAF.

He stayed there for two years, during which the couple had to make do with writing each other letters.

And Margaret said each letter seemed to take forever to arrive.

In 1954 the couple moved to Swindon, where Mick worked as a bus driver and conductor.

Margaret worked in a Regent Street department store.

"I didn't like the town much at first but it grew on us," said Margaret.

The couple have enjoyed many walks around the Town Gardens over the years.

They have one son, Christopher, daughter-in-law Judith and one granddaughter, 21-year-old Emma.

Asked for the secret of their long and happy marriage Margaret said: "We've gone through life making our own happiness with no arguing if we can help it.

"Being content is a lot to do with it."