A BRIDGWATER couple who were engaged three weeks after meeting for the first time celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on Thursday.

Frank and Marjorie Ridout met at a wedding in April 1949 and it wasn’t long before young love blossomed.

Marjorie was a nurse in the Queen Alexandra's Nursing Corp, who had been stationed in Iraq and Kenya, when she met farmer Frank at his sister’s wedding.

Frank said: “Three weeks later, Marjorie was applying to go back to Kenya and I asked her to marry me instead.

“She said ‘OK’ and I ripped up the application and threw it in the fire.”

For the last 60 years, the couple have enjoyed “first-class” marriage at Huntstile Farm in Goathurst, where they celebrated their anniversary with family and friends.

Marjorie said: “It's been a good life together and we are lucky to have our five children still close.”

A lot of give and take along with similar interests has been key to their happy marriage, claim the couple, who both enjoy nature and gardening and worked together on the farm.

Frank said: “We never try to keep up with The Jones's and have lived by a saying my mother always had - let not the sun go down upon thy wrath.”

“And letting him always THINK he's the boss,” added Marjorie.