Oakham couple Marie and John Brown celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary

A couple who met through a mutual friend are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

John and Marie Brown have been married for 60 years today (Thursday, June 5).

Marie is a true Rutlander having been born in Mill Street, Oakham, and grown up in the town. John was born in the Leicestershire village of Hoby but moved to Cottesmore as a toddler where his family were farmers.

The pair started dating as teenagers after one of John’s colleagues suggested he should ask Marie out on a date.

John knew she worked at Boots in Oakham so waited outside her house one morning and offered her a lift to work. As he dropped her off, John asked Marie out and their first date was a walk at Beacon Hill in Loughborough.

They married two years later on June 5, 1965 at All Saints’ Church in Oakham followed by a reception at Victoria Hall and a honeymoon in Lowestoft.

Marie, 81, said: “It was a lovely day. The weather was sunny and warm and we had about 100 guests.”

The couple moved into a house in Braunston Road, Oakham, and have lived there ever since. They went on to have two children - Melissa and Paul - and now have two granddaughters, Olivia and Mabel.

Marie stayed at home to look after the children but later became a domestic cleaner at Oakham School before retiring to help look after her grandchildren.

John, 83, worked at Hicks Builders before taking a job in maintenance at Oakham School until the age of 66. He later worked part-time for C&M Tractors.

The couple agree that the key to a successful marriage is give and take. They have also learned to play to their strengths, with John joking: “I can’t pick a paint colour! I leave Marie to choose that and then I just do the decorating.”

Over the years the couple have enjoyed foreign holidays together. Marie is a keen quizzer and part of a ladies’ club while John is a fan of classic cars and air shows.

They held a big party for their golden wedding anniversary in 2015 so will be celebrating their latest milestone with a small afternoon tea with family.

Marie added: “We just take each day as it comes and enjoy it.”