A COUPLE who have spent their whole lives in Highworth are celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Fred and Kath Harman grew up a couple of streets away from each other and went to Kingsdown School.

It wasn’t until they both started working at the old Highworth mat factory that they started courting.

After a year together, they got engaged in 1957 and married a year later at St Michael’s Church.

Fred, 87, said: “It had snowed the week before we married, so it was quite cold but it was a nice day.

“We’ve always shared everything and looked after one another.

“That would be our advice to young people – sharing your problems goes a long way.”

Kath, 79, said: “We have a lot of memories. There have been ups and downs like in every marriage, but we do almost everything together.”

Fred added: “People say they’ve been through life without ever having an argument and I don’t believe them.

“But we must have done something right to stay together for 60 years!”

Their family joined them to celebrate their special day, then on Saturday they had a party at the Saracen’s Head, where they first got engaged all those years ago.

They also received a message from the Queen, which their children Malcolm and Debra framed for them. They also have four grandchildren.

Both have battled cancer and decided to ask for donations to Brighter Futures in lieu of gifts.

Fred added: “I know what it’s like to have to go to Oxford five days a week for 15 minutes of treatment.

“I can’t fault the treatment itself - the staff were marvellous - but the journey was an ordeal.”

Kath added: “I had breast cancer 10 years ago and had to deal with the same thing.

“It would be great to have a treatment centre in Swindon, Oxford is such a long way to go.”

Over the years, the couple have enjoyed travelling round the world and, closer to home, supporting their local football team.

Fred added: “I used to play for Highworth Town and we still go out and support them.

“We went to North Shields when they reached the semi-final of the FA Vase a few years ago and we were probably the oldest supporters there.”

Kath added: “We like travelling, we’ve been all over Europe and America.

“We both like football and reading, though I like going to bingo and to the theatre which he isn’t fussed about. We go out together a lot, though it’s mainly bus trips and days out now rather than holidays abroad.

Fred added: “Yes, we take life at a slower pace now, though when I go out on my own, people still always ask where Kath is.”

Fred left school at 14 and worked at the mat factory until he was 30, then worked at Rover for most of his life before retiring and working for a few years at the Saracen’s Head.

Kath said she had done “a few bits and pieces”, including working in the mat factory for four years before joining the kitchen staff in Southfields School.