WEYMOUTH couple Ron and June Moscrop celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with a party attended by family and friends.

Mrs Moscrop, 79, was born in Weymouth and grew up in Chickerell Road while her husband, 86, was born in Sunbury on Thames in Middlesex.

Mrs Moscrop said her father Mac was a prisoner of war in the Second World War and she remembered her school at Chapelhay was bombed, so the children had to go to school at Sidney Hall.

She said she also remembered when the banana tree in the Palm House bore fruit and all the children of POWs were given one.

Mr Moscrop came to Weymouth as a footballer and chose the town over West Bromwich because he had an opportunity to work as a trainee engineer with the Southern Electricity Board.

He was a keen sportsman and as well as playing football for Weymouth, Dorchester, and Portland over the years he also played tennis, badminton and cricket.

The pair met at a dance held in the Sidney Hall and later married at Holy Trinity Church, but Mr Moscrop took a quick break from the celebrations to play in the Dorset Senior cup final for Dorchester against Portland, scoring Dorchester's third goal just before half-time.

After winning 3-1, the groom picked up the trophy and went off to join the wedding reception at Nothe Fort, then known as the Red Barracks.

The newlyweds settled in Weymouth and Mrs Moscrop worked at Lovells Creamery alongside being a brown owl with the Radipole brownies, later becoming the Guides' district commissioner.

They have two children - Carole, who lives in Kingston upon Thames with husband Dave; and Chris, who lives in Weymouth with his wife Annie; along with four grandchildren - Lucie, Sally, Kiri and Rob.

Mr and Mrs Moscrop still live in Weymouth and since Mr Moscrop retired as a planning engineer the pair have been active members of the SEB retirement club.

They will be celebrating their special day with family and friends, including at a family lunch and with a party.