AS LOVE birds across Swindon celebrate blossoming romance on Valentine's Day one couple will be marking 60 years of happy marriage.

And romance isn't dead for Joy and Cyril May from Walcot.

The couple, who are both 79, say they never miss the chance to mark Valentine's Day.

"We're celebrating 60 happy years," said Cyril. "And we never miss an anniversary."

Joy said: "We always have time for a bit of romance."

"Cyril is the love of my life as much now as he was the day we married."

Cyril, an engineer from the town centre, met Joy, a printer from Pinehurst, at a dance at Pinehurst School.

"We weren't courting long before we were married," said Joy.

"We didn't have a lot in common and it wasn't love at first sight but we just knew we were meant to be together."

They married on February 14, 1948 and went on to have four children - three boys and a girl.

Joy said: "At the wedding I kept thinking about what my mother told me, if you're a good cook you'll keep your man.' "That has stayed with me ever since and of course I am a very good cook."

Apart from being a dab hand in the kitchen, Joy says the key to a happy marriage is give and take.

She said: "You have to know how to get along with each other and not give up if times get hard.

"It is such a shame so many people don't last nowadays but I think some people just need to remember why they loved that person.

"We're as much in love now as we ever were."

The happy couple will be celebrating today with a special dinner and a family gathering at their home.

"It's always such a happy occasion," said Joy.