HAPPY couple Rose and Alec Acock have celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary with family and friends.

Rose grew up in Gloucestershire and worked at a drapers when she left school. She remembers having to work long hours for just five shillings (25p) a week and having a one and a half hour walk home.

Her next job was at a factory in Northleach where she started on the shop floor and ended up working in the office, a food office for the Ministry of Labour.

Alec was born in Northleach. When he was very young, he contracted TB and could not walk for four years, so was not able to start school until he was seven old.

When he left school he worked in the motor trade and stayed in the trade until he retired having worked for three different companies.

Alec and Rose got married on September 3, 1949 and later had a daughter.

They moved to Cheltenham in 1970 where they lived until they moved to Crediton in 1993 to be near their daughter, who was then living at Sandford.

They are blessed with three grandchildren and two great grandchildren, of whom they are very proud.

They celebrated their anniversary with a family meal and were surprised three days later when they discovered that their daughter had organised a surprise party.

Rose explained: "It was nice to see everyone at the party. We had greetings from New Zealand and Australia and we had some lovely flowers."

Alec added: "The reason our marriage has lasted so long is because we've always got on well together."