WELL known Lydney couple, Leslie and Phyllis Goulding have celebrated their diamond wedding with a party for family and friends.

The former Post Office employee met his wife-to-be while on his way to work at the head office in Lydney.

A Pillowell girl, Phyllis was working as a shop assistant in a nearby High Street store. Leslie stopped to talk .... and the rest, as they say, is history.

The couple married at St Mary's Church, Lydney, on May 26, 1951.

Mr Goulding served for five years in the RAF before becoming a postman and then working on telephones for the company which eventually became British Telecommunications.

After retiring he became closely involved with Primrose Hill Church and was a member of the local ministry team. He is now being cared for at Westbury Court and his wife visits daily from the family home at Lancaster Drive, Lydney.

Mrs Goulding, a former member of the award-winning Lydcroft Singers, was a church organist for 40 years, has helped train choirs and still sings in the Primrose Hill choir.

To celebrate their 60th anniversary the couple were joined by family and friends for a party at Westbury.

They have two children, Philip and Marian, three grandchildren, Michelle, Michael and Callem and two great granddaughters, Becky and Layla-Rose.