STONEHOUSE couple David and Anne Smith will celebrate 60 years of marriage tomorrow, Thursday.

When their parents introduced them in January 1945, love between the fresh-faced Londoner and the farm girl from Standish was instant.

The early days were tough though, with David Mr Smith away all week at Army barracks in Cheshire and weekend leave only granted after a successful cross-country test on the Saturday morning.

"If you were fast enough you were given a ticket to leave," said David, who was driven on by the thought of seeing his fiancee.

"I made it my business to always be in the first half dozen," he added.

The couple settled in Stonehouse after the war and the Five Valleys has been home ever since. The couple now have two grandchildren by their son, Terry.

A successful football referee for many years, Mr Smith was sent to matches all around the country and into Europe on occasion.

Mrs Smith, who used to love to attend said: "It was marvellous, we got to meet the managers, royalty and all of the celebrities of the day who we talked about as girls."