GIVE and take and a good laugh is the secret to making it to 60 years of martial bliss according to one Park North couple.

Robert and Doreen Upfold celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on Thursday and took the opportunity to reminisce about old times.

Robert, 81, said: “Doreen was 15 and a half and used to go to school with my cousin Maureen when I first knew about her because they were both very pally."

Doreen, 79, grew up in Greenford, Middlesex whereas Robert spent most of his childhood in Shepherd’s Bush.

“We started going out with each other for two years and then I was due to be called up into the army in 1955 so we decided to get engaged," he said.

Robert spent two years away from his love Doreen and it when he returned home, aged 21, that the pair decided to tie the knot at her local methodist church in Greenford.

“Me, like an idiot, not realising how cold it was going to be decided to wear a summer suit to the wedding and in the photos you could see me shivering to death,” Robert joked. “We had a great day though.”

It was in 1959 that the couple welcomed their first child Gary into the world who was born on Christmas Day at Hammersmith Hospital. Four years later they had another son Martin before moving to Swindon in 1965.

While Doreen stayed at home bringing up the two boys, Robert worked at British Road Services before joining Thamesdown Transport as a bus driver in the early 1980s.

His nickname was ‘Popeye’ with both customers and colleagues for smoking a pipe on the bus.

“We have had a good life together,” Robert added.

“For us it is about give and take.

“We haven’t had any qualms and what makes it all the most worthwhile is that on Doreen’s family and my side, we are the only ones that have reached our diamond anniversary.

“You have to have a good laugh in life and not get miserable about things. I had enough of that during the war years and so we have had a good life together.”

The pair had a special party a few weeks ago where family and friends were able to celebrate the occasion but they were also joined by their children and two grandchildren on Thursday.