Diamond Wedding Cake for Freddie and Jan

"We have been together ever since," said Jan Warren as she celebrates sixty years with husband Freddie - their diamond wedding anniversary was yesterday, Thursday November 1.

She remembers the evening when Freddie, wearing uniform, walked in with his friends.

"He came to ask me for a dance, and that was it. It's all quite romantic really."

The couple, who now live in Richmond Grove, enjoyed a diamond celebration at the weekend attended by sons Rodney and Richard with their own families.

A party at Powdermills Hotel was preceded by a service in St Peter's Church led by Canon Edward Bryant.

"It was wonderful," said Jan, "and there were 27 in the choir, which was lovely."

They have six grandchildren who were all present- Claire, Charlotte, Pippa, Elizabeth, Jonathon, and Jessica, and one great grandchild who is Tallulah Rose.

Their sons both gave "excellent" speeches at the party, as did their friend Brian Lister who lives in Sedlescombe.

"It was a great occasion, and we had a cake made by Christine Hamilton. When she came to ask me what design I wanted, I thought it would be fun to depict the old people on the road sign - the elderly people crossing - and that was us."

Jan was born in Colchester and grew up in Frinton-on-Sea where she attended a convent school but was evacuated during the war, and later took up nursing.

Freddie grew up in Bristol and left school at 16. He joined the Army and was commissioned at Aldershott.

The couple had their wedding in Frinton then began their married life in Bristol. Freddie worked in banking and during the course of his career, the family moved house 13 times while he worked in six different branches, and lived in various locations including Hastings and Eastbourne.

Freddie commented: "I was very happy in banking - I made a lot of good friends."

He remains a member of the Rotary Club in Eastbourne, and also the 41 Club which is the second stage of Round Table, while Jan is a member of the Rotary Inner Wheel.

They have been in Bexhill for four years, where Jan indulges her passion for creative and imaginative gardening, and Freddie enjoys a love-hate relationship with his computer.

She said: "I have got my garden and he has got his hobby - we are very compatible that way."

Later this month they will take part in the diamond wedding celebrations of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip - couples married at the same time will attend a thanksgiving service at Chichester Cathedral and then have tea with the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex.