Diamond wedding celebrations for Bexhill couple

Olive, 82, and Len Crowe, 84, who are residents of Peterhouse, met in 1945 and Len said he "decided when he first saw her", that Olive was the girl for him, whilst it took Olive "a few weeks" to realise Len was the one for her, and two months later they were engaged.

Olive said: "We met at Morden Baptist church in Surrey when I was eighteen and Len was twenty one. We both went to the church's youth club and helped out at the Sunday School."

At the time, Len was in the RAF and Olive worked as a secretary in a solicitors office. Prior to joining up Len had been an office junior at the BBC. He returned to the BBC after the war, working on as an engineer in outside broadcasting for thirty nine years.

Two and a half years after they met Olive and Len tied the knot on 4th February 1950, at Morden Baptist church, with a full white wedding and fifty guests joining them on their special day.

The couple had two daughters, Miriam '“ who is now the headmistress at Bexhill's Charters Ancaster school - and Linda, who lives in Northampton and is a Chief Police officer.

They have three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Olive and Len 'retired' to Sussex, but they didn't let the grass grow under their feet as Len began a whole new career.

Olive, who qualified as a social worker when she was in her forty's, said:

"Len was ordained as a priest at Salisbury Theological college when he was fifty seven. His first post was at Fairlight, where he was the vicar for ten years, and then at Rye for a couple of years. My experience as a social worker was very helpful for me when Len became a priest."

Olive said they have had a wonderful life together adding:

"So many years, so many experiences, so many friends. We thank God for his many blessings."

The couple, who have lived in Bexhill for ten years, celebrated their diamond wedding with a tea party at Peterhouse and a luncheon party for thirty family and friends at Eastbourne's Hydro hotel.

They received sixty seven cards congratulating them on sixty years of wedded bliss including one from HRH Queen Elizabeth.

Olive said their recipe for a long happy marriage is simple:

"Love is the biggest recipe of all. Just go on loving with a lot of give and take."