A couple approaching their 60th wedding anniversary are set to celebrate the occasion with a royal message from the King.

Ronald and Virginia Atkins, 81 and 77, have spent much of their 60 years of marriage in the Swindon area since becoming close in Dawlish Warren on holiday in the summer of 1964.

Mrs Atkins said: “After we met on holiday, I had to travel back to Cumnock, Scotland with my family while Ron went back to Coleshill.

“There was a postal strike and no telephones in the house, so we had to keep in touch using the one telephone box in each of our towns until I moved down to Highworth to live with Ron’s sister.”

The couple decided to tie the knot soon after, getting married in Coleshill Parish Church on November 28 1964 despite doubts from onlookers.

Virginia said: “Everyone said ‘oh my goodness, you’ve only just met’, with even a close family friend telling us it wouldn’t last as we hadn’t known each other long enough. But it did last.”

In the 60 years since, Virginia and Ronald have moved between Scotland and Wiltshire, and currently live in Upper Stratton.

The couple have two children, Audrey and Peter, as well as seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who Virginia says are “scattered all over the place” living in England, Scotland and Germany.

It was their daughter Audrey who first reached out to the Royal Family in the hope of receiving a commemoration for her parents’ anniversary.

The application was successful, and the Atkins can now expect a congratulatory message from King Charles on their special day.

Virginia and Ronald also celebrated their anniversary in their own way earlier this week, returning to the church where they were married in Coleshill for the first time in 60 years.

Virginia said: “It is something we have been meaning to do for a long time. We had a walk around and signed the visitor’s book, it brought back a lot of old memories.”

On her parents, Audrey said: “My dad is a real hard worker, and over the years they have moved up to Scotland as my mum got homesick and then back down to Wiltshire a few times. They help each other through everything.”

The Atkins also have fond memories of their time in Wiltshire: "We've always loved Swindon, and never understood why friends would travel to places like Bristol for their shopping. We especially have loved the Wiltshire countryside though."

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