AN Offenham couple have just celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Bill and Pauline Brotherton, whose 60th anniversary as man and wife took place last Thursday, met at a dance at Evesham’s public hall just before the war and have been together ever since.

Pauline said: “Bill was a good dancer. It wasn’t love at first site but it did not take long to develop.”

Bill, who has lived in Offenham all his life, worked at the grocers in Avon Street, Evesham, before leaving to fight in the war.

When he returned he picked up from where he left off and only retired from his job at the same grocers three years ago, at the age of 82.

Pauline, who is 79, used to work at Willmot’s spectacle factory in Evesham but left when she had her two daughters Susan and Julie.

They were married at All Saints Church in Evesham in 1951.

The couple agreed the secret to a lasting marriage was, as ever, a bit of give and take, but also to have the good health to enjoy it.

Now both retired, Pauline and Bill like to spend time in the garden and coffee morning out with friends.

They plan to celebrate their anniversary with a Sunday lunch at the Dormy House Hotel in Broadway this weekend.