A SWINDON couple are set to clock up 60 years of marriage later this month as they celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.

On September 22, John and Patricia Williams will mark 60 years of wedded bliss, with the hope of many happy years still to come.

The couple, who live in Rodbourne Cheney, first met in 1953. John would ride his motorbike past her house and, intrigued, Patricia would keep a keen eye out for her future soul mate.

“He must have guessed something was up because one day he drove the bike over to the front gate and started chatting to me,” said Patricia, 81.

A year later, at age 21, John, who was born in Malmesbury, was conscripted into the army and sent to Germany to complete his mandatory National Service.

However, he never really enjoyed army life, finding instead that he was missing his girl. And, as if to make up for lost time, when he returned two years later the couple were married in St Mary’s Church, Rodbourne. They spent their honeymoon in Teignmouth in Devon.

Slowly settling into married life, they both began working for British Rail – John in the machine shop, Patricia in the office – before the former left in 1958 to work for Pressed Steal, where he stayed until he retired in 1997.

When their daughter Janice was born in 1965, Patricia took the decision to stay at home and look after the family.

She said: “John didn’t want me to carry on working if I didn’t need to and I thought staying at home to look after our daughter was the best thing.

“In those days, the girls didn’t go back to work like they do now, they looked after the family instead.”

Janice currently lives in Australia and the couple have been over to visit four times in the 11 years she has lived there – not least to see their two granddaughters: Rachel, 19, and Michelle, 18.

“It is a lovely part of the country where she lives – just outside of Brisbane,” said Patricia. “It is beautiful and they are very happy.”

The couple have many hobbies, with Patricia showing off her green fingers in the garden and John taking a keen interest in cars, having built his own kit car from scratch.

Speaking of their anniversary, Patricia said: “We didn’t want a party so we are just taking some friends out for a meal. Then we are going on a cruise to the Greek Islands, which we are really looking forward to.”

Offering the secret to a long and happy marriage, Patricia said: “You have to give and take and try not to lose your temper so quickly. It’s about having patience and listening to one another.”