A SENSE of humour but, above all, the ability to love is the secret to 60 years of marital bliss for one Moredon couple. 

Daphne and Donald Carter first locked eyes as shy teenagers and love soon blossomed for the pair when they worked for the same company in Southall, Middlesex.

It was after speaking to Donald’s identical twin Dudley that Daphne put the wheels in motion to woo her love interest as he played darts at the Nestlé social club – a decision she hasn’t lived to regret. 

“My office was right down the end of the corridor from Donald and so I had to walk past them both quite often. Donald was always smiling and laughing and Dudley was much more serious,” the 79-year-old joked.

“My best friend, Mary, who I worked with, fancied Dudley and one night we had been down the club when he came up on his bike and asked if I could help him get a date with her. I said yes... but only if he could get one for me with Donald.”

The pair’s first date was a romantic bike ride around Richmond Park and they soon found out they had a common interest in dancing, a tradition they have kept going to this day. 

“After we met, we decided to go to more classes,” Daphne said. “Donald was so good though that they put him in the advanced class and left me behind. I hate to admit it but when I saw him dancing with all those young ladies, I got very jealous.

“We have done a lot of other things together over the years, from emigrating to Australia before moving back to the UK and settling here. Two of my bridesmaids had gone out there and kept trying to persuade us to follow. It was something that we thought about for a while and said that if we didn’t go, we would end up regretting it so off we went.

“The secret to making it to 60 years is a sense of humour, especially when the children came along.” 

After tying the knot in St Mary the Virgin Church, Southall, in 1957, the couple soon welcomed their children, Sharon, Malcolm and Jackie, into the world and set about making life-long memories as a family, including annual trips to Austria – a country they have come to love since visiting in 1958.

Donald, 83, said: “We first went out before you could travel by aircraft, so we went by train. I remember the moment we pulled the curtains back and we fell in love with the place. There was a waterfall and mountains and it was just beautiful. 

“Making it to 60 years, well, you don’t think about it until it is here. You don’t even think that far ahead when you’re getting married but it is lovely that we are able to celebrate it.”

As well as being keen travellers, the couple, who are also part of the U3A club, decided to settle in Swindon over 20 years ago to be closer to their daughters.

They will be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary with a family party this weekend.