A COUPLE who first met at a birthday party in 1947 are celebrating 60 years of marriage today.

Daphne and Derrick Painter, who live in Bampton, were introduced to each other at Mr Painter’s 21st birthday party in Oxford.

Mr Painter, 85, was studying English at New College when he was introduced to fellow student Daphne.

He said: “I had come back from being demobbed from the Navy and had arranged a birthday party with beer all round.

“We were introduced by a man from my college called Gordon Evans.

“I wouldn’t have said it was love at first sight, but we thought we were an amiable couple.”

The pair graduated and continued to see each other, as Mr Painter got a job in London to be close to his partner. In 1952 they got married at a church in Golders Green.

Mrs Painter, nee Tuck, 85, said: “Quite a lot of people came to our wedding.

“My father put on a lunch and it was quite a nice day, and we then got the train down to Devon for our honeymoon.”

The couple lived in London for most of their working lives, with Mr Painter working in marketing for companies such as Penguin and Unilever and Mrs Painter working as a teacher.

Simon, their only child, was born in 1955.

Mr Painter said: “The secret to a long marriage is tolerance more than anything. We get on well.

“We are still alive for one thing! In many ways we’re very similar.

“This is a big year to have our diamond anniversary. The Queen is the same age as us, God bless her.”