ROY and Muriel Emery of The Rose Gardens in Hereford have cause to mark today as they celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.

They were married 60 years ago today on June 2, 1956.

The happy couple met through Muriel's brother Dave Roberts who was a friend of Roy's.

At the time of the wedding Roy, from Ballingham, was 19 and serving in the Navy. Muriel was 22 on the wedding day and was from Brockhampton, where the couple lived during the early years of their marriage.

When Roy came out of the Navy the couple moved to Ballingham with five daughters in tow and Roy went to work on a farm for several years. Muriel worked at a smallholding where she would pick fruit and tend to potted plants.

Another daughter followed and they left the farm to move to a smallholding in the village with their six daughters. Roy went on to work at Wyevale for several years, and Muriel became an auxiliary at Holme Lacy House when it was a home for the elderly.

They are retired now and have 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with another two on the way.

The couple have lived at The Rose Gardens since it opened and they are having a party there to celebrate.