BET and Henry Smith, who celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at the weekend, say they don’t have a secret to a long marriage, but are glad their relationship has never got rusty.

The couple marked their blue sapphire anniversary with a party on Saturday attended by more than 25 members of the family.

Mr Smith, 85, said: “We don’t really have a secret; marriage is hard work and is about give and take.

“We also tried never to argue in front of the children.

“I’m just glad we haven’t got rusty after all these years.”

Mrs Smith, 86, was born in Lambourn, Berkshire, and Mr Smith, in Gillingham, Kent, before moving to Lambourn as a teenager.

The pair met when Mr Smith saw his future wife crossing the road and though he would ask her on a date.

The couple married in St Michaels Church, Lambourn, on April 25, 1950, and had six children, Madeleine, twins Henry and Elaine, Carol, Pam and Dawn.

While Mrs Smith was taking care of the children Mr Smith had various jobs including working at Lambourn Engineering.

Then in 1971 the couple, along with youngest daughter Dawn, moved to Marden to run the former New Inn now The Millstream. The Smiths were landlords of the pub for almost 30 years before retiring in 2000.

Mr Smith said: “We had a lot of fun at the pub; it was our home and we had a great group of customers.

“It was the hub of the community and we had lots of clubs using the pub from cricket to darts.”

After retiring from the pub the pair moved to their current home in Pucklands, Patney.

The couple have enjoyed spending more time with their large family and along with their six children have 20 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

Mrs Smith also enjoys garden and cooking, with her bread pudding and pickled onions being particular favourites within the family.