A JET-SETTING couple who have travelled the world are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary today (Jan 19).

Janet and Gordon Averies, who live in Moredon, will be having a family meal to mark the special occasion which they say came about by pure chance after meeting through mutual friends at a social event in Milton Road.

From that point on, a friendship blossomed into love and the couple wed at Wroughton Parish Church on January 19, 1957 before moving to Rodbourne Cheney as Gordon worked as a coach finisher on the railway.

Janet, who turned 78 on Saturday, said: “We didn’t have a honeymoon but in our later years, we made up for it. I collect plates from our travels and we have been all over the world. Our favourite place without a doubt is Benidorm and we have been there 49 times.

“Before that, we’ve been to places like Venice, Austria, France and loads more.

“One of my favourite trips was getting the train all the way to Paris and through to Milan and that was because of Gordon’s railway connections.

“We’ve had other free train travel which has been a big help in life.”

The couple who have three boys, Patrick, Steven and Jeff and daughter Susan, also have seven grandchildren, three step grandchildren, one great grandson and three step great grandchildren.

Speaking of his love of having trips away with his beloved wife, Gordon, 82 said: “We have gone to Benidorm every year for about the last 39 years and we have even gone twice some years. It is the only place I really want to go because you have all of the karaoke with Frank Sinatra songs and Rod Stewart which is great.”

While the loved up couple take a well deserved rest from travelling, the pair say just spending time in one another’s company is one reason their marriage has lasted so long.

Janet, nee Nolan, who is a volunteer at the Wyvern Theatre, added: “When the children were young it was hard going because there wasn’t much money about but you have to stay happy and make sure you do things that you are both interested in. I love doing gardening and dancing and Gordon loves his football but I would say the secret is making the most of everything in life together.”