A COUPLE from Canford Cliffs have celebrated six decades of marriage after meeting in a college aged just 15 and 20.

Walter, 90, and Valerie Scott, 85, married in a registry office in Leicester, on July 3 1954, after being friends for 10 years, having met at The Leicester Colleges of Technology and Art, aged 15 and 20.

Mr Scott was taking evening classes in mechanical technology, while his then future-wife helped in the offices at the college, when they met in passing, before marrying a decade later.

Daughter, Wendy Clark, said: “Mum wore a beautiful pale blue ballerina-type dress with a matching lace bolero, which I remember we used to play with as kids.”

Her dad, Walter, said: “We had a lovely day, including Jet the dog, who even had a ribbon around his neck.

“After the wedding reception, we left in a Humber Super Snipe, which took us to a hotel in London and we then went on to a hotel in Bournemouth for the honeymoon.”

Together, Valerie and Walter have three children, who also include sons Andrew and Zealony, along with seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

When asked what the secret to a long and happy marriage is, Walter said: “I was asked that question only the other day and said that it was all down to a loving wife.

His wife, Valerie added: “I never thought that we would still be here 60 years later.

“My advice would be that you have to let each-other have some space and some time to yourselves sometimes.”

After a little more time to think, Walter added: “We share everything together and we work well together.

“So I would say that you can only be in love if you are going to get married.

“You cannot do it for any other reason such as finance or convenience, only for love.”

The couple will enjoy a party on Saturday at Compton Acres, where they will be joined by all their family and friends to celebrate the special landmark diamond wedding anniversary.