A COUPLE who have lived in the same village all their married life have just celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Sid and Margaret Jones, both 83, met at the age of 22, and have lived in Mitcheldean, where he also grew up, since marrying in 1959.

They were joined at Westbury-on-Severn Village Hall by 120 family and friends to mark their 60 years together.

The couple and many other villagers arrived at the party in a beautiful and well maintained 1979 Volvo Cottrell’s Coach, driven by family friend and ex-Cottrell’s driver Brian Morgan.

After completing army service in Malaya, Sid met Margaret, who worked at local plastics factory Rosedales, in Cinderford.

They later married at Margaret’s local chapel in Littledean on Saturday, August 8, 1959, together with six bridesmaids and lifelong friend and best man Brian Malpass, who also still lives in Mitcheldean.

The wedding reception cost them the equivalent of 35p per head and their modest honeymoon was spent in Bournemouth.

The happy couple have three children, Shirley, Paul and Andrew, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild, most of whom still live in the area.

During their working lives, Sid worked for BAF, Rank Xerox and the Forestry Commission.

Besides working at Rosedales, Margaret looked after the family and later worked at Rank Xerox and Townsend House.

Sid has just retired from the Gloucester Football Association after 55 years’ service, and the couple only retired from delivering the Forest Review a few years ago due to Sid’s failing eyesight.

Sid and Margaret received a congratulations card from the Queen, and many more cards from family and friends.

The couple chose not to receive gifts, however, asking for any donations to be gifted to Mitcheldean Surgery.

And they handed over a cheque for £425 to Dr Paul Weiss which will go towards purchasing medical equipment.

The couple said they wished to thank everyone for their kind generosity, and for making their special anniversary celebration even more special.