Golden couple

Husband Brian thinks it's all about "give and take", and adds: "We have also had such a lovely life with our kids - we have always been a close family.

"This is an open house...we are always there for them, and they are here for us."

The couple, who live in Alford Way, have this week been marking their golden wedding anniversary, having enjoyed dinner last Friday with 20 friends, and looking forward to a party with neighbours today, Friday January 25.

Tomorrow they celebrate with family and close friends - their children Anita, twins Paul and Nigel, Carolyn, and Roy, and their grandchildren Christopher, Abigail, Matthew, Lucy, Hannah, Thomas, Daniel and Nadine.

It is more than a half a century since they first clapped eyes on each other at a Crystal Palace supporters' club dance at Kennard's in Croydon.

Sylvia was there with a friend, and Brian was wanting a dance and a drink while on leave from the army. It was November 5 1955, and he had upset his mother by setting off fireworks, so thought it best to go out. He saw Sylvia, liked her, and asked her for a dance, which turned out to be If You Were The Only Girl In The World.

"I had to go down on my knee, and she sat on it, and I had to sing If You Were The Only Girl to her - everyone was doing it. Afterwards I said - what's your name?"

They fell for each other straight away, and kept in touch continually while Brian went to Germany for two years, before marrying in 1958.

He came out of the army, and became an engineer before going into the police force. The couple made their home in Croydon, and started their family before moving to Orpington. Brian worked in CID, and was at one time in the fraud squad and anti-corruption unit, based in Scotland Yard. He often travelled around the country and spent time away, leaving Sylvia to bring up five children and run the household single-handed. He stayed with the Metropolitan Police for 25 years before retiring in 1983 because of a spinal injury.

They moved to Bexhill at that point, with Brian working in the civil service, specialising in law enforcement and dealing with fraud. Sylvia had jobs at Tesco and Safeways before leaving because of back problems when she was 60.

They are both 71 now, and showing no signs of slowing down because they enjoy socialising, holidays, and keeping active. Brian relishes his involvement with several clubs, including Probus, the business and professional men's club, and the Active Leisure Club which is based in Little Common. Sylvia likes to spend time knitting, reading, and seeing friends. They are planning a trip to Gran Canaria in the near future in honour of their golden wedding.