A COUPLE who met at a dance are celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Walter and Pamela Southgate, of Slough Street, East Bergholt, marked their diamond anniversary on Sunday by renewing their vows at St Michael’s Church, Brantham.

Mr Southgate enjoyed a number of different roles, including warden, in the church up to the age of 70.

His wife has also been church secretary.

Mrs Southgate said: “We met at a dance at Brantham village hall, my husband had just been demobbed from the RAF.

“We were going out together for two years before we married in 1949.”

The couple tied the knot on June 4 at St Michael’s Church and had a reception nearby.

Mrs Southgate said: “It poured with rain, but the sun shone when we came out of the church.”

The 84-year-olds lived in Brantham for ten years before moving to East Bergholt, and today live in the same bungalow they bought as their first home there 40 years ago.

For many years, Mr Southgate worked at the BX Plastics factory in Brantham and Mrs Southgate was a secretary there for 35 years.

They had one son, Martin, who passed away two years ago after a long illness.

Mr and Mrs Southgate also have a granddaughter, Kathryn.

Mrs Southgate added: “We have always been very happy but we work very hard.

“We feel we have been blessed the way things have gone.”