Diamond celebration for Graham and Phyllis Warner

Graham and Phyllis Warner of Cooden Drive have invited family and friends to a party this weekend at Christchurch Methodist church hall to mark their anniversary which is on September 23.

The 65 guests include daughters Jillian and Hilary, and grandsons Paul, Ian, Christopher, Peter and Matthew.

Phyllis, whose maiden name was Owers, was born in Barrack Road and went to St Peter's school until she was evacuated to St Albans at age 13 during the war. She left school a year later and worked for the Gas Office in Snodland, which is between Maidstone and Chatham.

Graham was born in North Road, Sidley, and has three sisters. He was a pupil at Sidley Infant School, St Barnabas junior school for boys, and Bexhill Grammar school in Turkey Road, before leaving to work in the family business '“ his father ran Warner's Hairdressers in Ninfield Road.

The couple met when they both attended Christchurch.

"I spotted her," said Graham, now 83.

"I turned and looked and something told me that this was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with."

Phyllis, who is 81, was quickly smitten also and they started seeing each other.

They met in Autumn 1943 and married five years later.

Phyllis had been working in the Prudential Assurance office in Bexhill but gave it up to concentrate on bringing up their two daughters. The hairdressing business relocated to Sea Road and the family lived in a flat above the shop '“ when the girls grew up, Phyllis helped out as a receptionist. Graham worked in the business for 47 years in all.

They retired in 1987 and moved to Chepbourne Road before settling in Gratton Court in Cooden Drive where they have lived since 1991.

They were in the past keen theatre-goers, but these days Graham pursues his passion for the sea, both in drawing and model ship-building, while Phyllis loves to read and learn about the royal family in Victorian times.

Of their 60 years marriage, Graham commented: "I think we are quietly satisfied. We said when we were married that we would look after each other for better or worse, in sickness or in health, until death us do part, and as we are both still here..."

Phyllis added: "We are very fortunate."