When a young man was sent overseas to train with the Royal Air Force, in 1953, he had no idea that he was to meet the love of his life.

Now, 60 years later, 79-year-old Ron and his wife Violet Knight of Somerfield Road, Loughton, are set to celebrate six decades of marriage.

The couple met in Winnipeg, Canada, where Ron fell head over heels for the local girl, although Violet says she took a little more convincing.

She said: “He never stopped pestering me from the first time he took me out. He just kept asking me to marry him and I told him not to be silly that he was far away from home and lonely.

“I said yes after about three months.”

Violet Knight followed her newly wed husband over to England after they were married in Winnipeg.

Mr and Mrs Knight who now have two daughters and two grandchildren say that the secret to a long and happy marriage is never to rest on a disagreement.

Mrs Knight, 83, said: “You have to be very tolerant of each other and never let the sun go down on a quarrel.”

The couple will be joined by friends and family to celebrate their Diamond wedding anniversary on May 16.

Karen Knight, the couple’s eldest daughter, says that despite being devoted to one another, her parents ensure that they have separate hobbies.

She said: “They love each other very much and they were on the same page when it came to parenting.

“They have always had outside interests. Mum is a great organiser and my dad went swimming about six days per week.”

Mrs Knight’s advice to anyone who wishes their relationship to stand the test of time, is to make sure that they have their own opinions.

She said: “I can’t stand it when people say they don’t quarrel, what kind of a person agrees with someone else all the time?

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’ve made it this far.

“We are very much looking forward to the party. We have friends coming from all over.”