A COUPLE, who have lived their entire married lives in the same house in Devizes, have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Marion and Peter Hughes of Cyprus Terrace got together when they were teenagers and were working at the Savage Transformer factory in Nursteed Road, Devizes.

Mrs Hughes, 80, said: “My friends kept on telling me I needed a boyfriend and went around pointing out all the boys and asking if I liked them.

“I said no until they got to Peter. We started chatting and then we started going out.”

The pair were married in the Sheep Street Baptist Church on September 5, 1959 when Marion was days away from being 21 and her husband 22.

They moved into their house in Cyprus Terrace and have stayed there ever since. Mr Hughes did National Service in the army and when he finished returned briefly to Savages before working at Spencer Engineering in Melksham for more than 30 years.

Mrs Hughes returned to work as a seamstress at Downlands School in Devizes after their children Debby and Ian started secondary school.

The couple now have two grandsons and a great grandson. Daughter Debby, who now lives in Portugal, was awarded the British Empire Medal this year for her work helping fire fighters who tackle forest blazes.

Mr Hughes, 82, said the couple, who both grew up in Devizes and went to Southbroom School, had seen many changes to the town over the years. He said: “They have not all been for the better. It seemed that the town used to be kept a lot cleaner.”

The couple celebrated at home on Thursday with a small party and are renewing their vows at St Matthew’s Church, Rowde on September 15. The service will be followed by a get-together at the Cross Keys, Rowde.

Both Mr and Mrs Hughes are keen gardeners and at one time had two allotments. Mrs Hughes was also keen on needlework and made much of her children’s clothing when they were young.

She said: “After Tesco opened it was cheaper to buy them than to make them.” Mr Hughes has always liked keeping himself fit and did cross country running in the army.