A happy couple rang in 60 years of marriage with a family celebration and a card from the Queen.

Sylvia and Brian Reynolds, aged 79 and 82, marked the occasion with a meal attended by 18 family members including their six grandsons.

The couple were married in St Laurence Church, Upwey, on October 26 1957 after meeting as teenagers at their local youth club.

They met at Upwey WI hall when Sylvia was just 15 years years old and spent four years together before tying the knot.

Sylvia said: “We were engaged when I was 17 and then Brian went off to do his national service for two years so we married as soon as he came home.

“It was quite a big wedding for back then, we had around 50 or 60 people and then we went off on our honeymoon that same night.”

The young couple travelled to London where they spent a long weekend exploring the city and soaking up the sights including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and a show at the Victoria theatre.

They have spent the whole of their married life in Weymouth were they bought up their son Tony and daughter Debbie.

Brian worked as a transport manager for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and Sylvia worked preparing school meals.

Sylvia said: “I realise how lucky we are to still be here and have one another. We have a wonderful family close-knit family who all live locally and we still have our health.

“We are extremely lucky.”

Since retiring the couple have kept fit and healthy as active members of the Weymouth and Melcombe Regis bowls club.

Keen travellers, the couple have been on 15 cruises together the all over the world from the Caribbean to the Black Sea.

To celebrate 60 years of wedded bliss they are currently planning their next cruise to the Norwegian fjords in the summer.

As Sylvia said: “We might as well do it while we’re both young enough to enjoy it.”

Avid Dorset Echo readers, the couple were featured in the paper when they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary 10 years ago.

"It’s important to us”, said Sylvia “We have bought the Echo every single day of our married lives, and if we are away I always ask my family to get it for us to read when we get back.”

She says the simple secret to a happy marriages is “a bit of give and take”.

“Obviously you are going to have your differences of opinions, but you just respect your partner, support each other and get on with it.”