'Start with love and work out your own recipe,' say Canon Pyon diamond wedding couple

John and Kathleen Townsend, from Canon Pyon, originally met as teenagers at a New Year's Eve dance in 1951 before being separated by John being sent to Germany on army conscription and married on his return.

Kathleen said: "The dances were common in those day although we already knew each other, went to the same youth club and were born a few yards from each other in the same small village.

"When John was sent on conscription we wrote to each other every day as there was no mobile phones."

Kathleen was only 19 when the couple married while John was 21.

The married couple later moved from Kent to Herefordshire where despite having four children to look after they also managed to convert and run the Bush Inn pub, near Bush Bank in 1973.

They also raised thousands of pounds for charity through a variety of events and Kathleen set up a keep fit class which also raised charity funds.

The couple ran the pub for six and a half years before moving from Bush Bank into Canon Pyon 10 years ago.

Kathleen also started the Pyon Players theatrical group and used to take school children to dance at local fetes.

The theatrical group is still going strong although Kathleen has now handed over the reigns

Alongside their four children the couple have 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

John said: "Every family has its ups and downs but we have managed to keep with it.

"To reach your diamond jubilee you have to be over 80 and I suppose not many people make it.

"We have quite a large family and when we get together there are 32 of us and they will all be here on Saturday to celebrate it with us."

Lady Bridget Bengough, from Canon Pyon, described the couple as the 'stars of their village' after all the past work they have done for the community.

She added: "Kathleen is very theatrical and has brought through during her time of living here about three or four generations of dancers and singers.