A BISHOPSTONE couple who met while working at the former Salisbury Infirmary are celebrating 60 years of marriage today.

Ivor Cummins, 89, was working as a porter at the hospital when he met Vera, 78, who was a cleaner.

They married at St John’s Church in Lower Bemerton on March 14, 1953. Mrs Cummins, who was brought up in Burcombe and Quidhampton, said: “We got married at 9.30am and there was thick fog but in the afternoon it was like a summer’s day, it was beautiful. Afterwards we went to Southbourne for the weekend.” T

he couple lived in a cottage in Wilton Road, which is now the Cricket Field House hotel, until they moved to Whitlock Rise in Bishopstone in 1960, where they have lived ever since.

Mr Cummins later worked at a local quarry while Mrs Cummins worked in a factory canteen, but then they both went back to work at the hospital. Mrs Cummins was a nurse until she retired in 1974 and Mr Cummins was a general porter until his retirement in 1988.

The couple have two daughters, Elaine and Gillian, and they had a son, Martin, who died in 1974. They also have four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

During their marriage, the couple have enjoyed spending time with family and friends and they are members of the Happy Circle group in Broad Chalke as well as the lunch club. To celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary, Mr and Mrs Cummins are having a meal with family.

Mrs Cummins said: “You have your ups and downs but you’ve just got to give and take.”