Celebrating 60 years together, William and Rosina Giller are looking forward to a party to mark the event at the weekend.

With three children, six grandchildren and six more great grandchildren, the couple from Beauchamps Drive in Wickford put the secret of a successful marriage down to communication and support.

Mrs Giller explained: "The cards have got to be on top of the table, you've got to talk to one another and you have got to be there for each other."

Married in east London on July 22, 1939, the couple spent the early years of their marriage apart, but they managed to cope with the troubles of war.

Mrs Giller explained how the couple had planned to get married on September 2, just one day before the Second World War broke out, but because a flat became available they brought the happy day forward to July.

Mr Giller then joined the armed forces and spent a year in Britain, before being sent to North Africa and then to Italy before returning home in 1946.

Mrs Giller faced the chaos of the Blitz whilst living in the East End and described how the couple coped.

"There was a lot of letter writing and a lot of praying. I think we were lucky because a lot of my friends and family didn't make it through."

The couple moved to Wickford 27 years ago, and it is the friends and neighbours who have been with them since then who will be invited to Saturday's celebrations.

Great occasion - William and Rosina Giller celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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