A DIAMOND couple from Dorset have celebrated their anniversary in style – by replicating their wedding day 60 years on.

Ann Matthews from Martinstown, near Dorchester spent six-months arranging the special service with Revd Jean Saddington the vicar of St Martin’s Church.

Together they recaptured the style, decorations, music and even some of the characters from March 17, 1956 when Ann walked down the aisle to her husband Ron.

Mrs Matthews said: “It was absolutely fabulous – a wonderful day.

“It was something unusual and something that hadn’t been done before.

“It wasn’t a renewing of vows, but a blessing.

“The theme of the service was love and happiness.

“They played our favourite songs; three out of my four bridesmaids from the day carried recreations of their original bouquets; I even brought out the figures from the top of the wedding cake to go on top of a replica of the original.

“It was really like another wedding service 60 years later.”

Mrs Matthews, 79, was born in Dartford in Kent.

She moved with her family to Weymouth when she was 11 and her mother was advised after an operation to go to the sea-side for recovery.

She met Ron, now 84, who lived his whole life in Martinstown, at a dance class in 1953, four years after she moved down.

She said: “I didn’t have a partner and neither did he.

“We became dance partners then and stayed partners for the rest of our lives.”

Three years later they got married at Trinity Church in Weymouth.

When Mr and Mrs Matthews first got married, he worked for on a farm but later the farm was sold and he became an electrician.

Mrs Matthews worked for the social services as a carer.

The couple had two children, Colin and Gill, who died in separate events five years apart.

Their children were married, and Mrs Matthews and her husband feel maintain a strong bond with their son and daughter’s respective partners.

She said: “We have two wonderful in-laws that we treat as a son and a daughter, and four fantastic grandchildren – all boys – the youngest of whom is 25.”

The couple have two great grandchildren, a five-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl.

They held their anniversary service on Saturday March 19, in front of 115 people from family to friends from the village.

Photos from the day were taken and provided by Graham Herbert.