A WEYMOUTH couple celebrated their diamond wedding with a family party.

John and Betty Wilson, from Southill, met while Mr Wilson was serving in the RAF at Biggin Hill.

He met Betty through a friend who knew her sister. Mr Wilson recalled it was only a casual meeting but he knew ‘from that moment’ that she was the girl he was going to marry.

The couple were married in Lancashire on December 23, 1953, and due to terrible weather conditions, Mrs Wilson’s family couldn’t make it on the day, but the couple took their honeymoon in Kent where her family lived.

After Mr Wilson left the air force he worked in the mills as an engineer and Mrs Wilson was a weaver. Later the family moved to Dorset after Mr Wilson got a job in the prison service and he ended up working at HMP Verne on Portland and Mrs Wilson worked in care homes.

The couple have seven children, including a set of twins and now have 19 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Mr Wilson said he put their long and successful marriage down to four points. He said: “It’s never being too old to hold hands. Always remembering to say I love you.

“It’s not marrying the right partner, it’s being the right partner.

“Marriage is about loving and trusting each other.”