A COUPLE from Loughton who are celebrating 60 years of marriage this week said that sharing their lives was their secret to staying together.

Joan and George Symes, of Barncroft Green, were married on August 5 1950 at St George's church in Loughton, after meeting at a fairground in the town when they were 16 and 17.

Mrs Symes, 81, has lived in the town since she was seven, when she moved from Buckhurst Hill, and Mr Symes, 82, moved there from London when he was 12, after his home was bombed during the Second World War.

Mr Symes worked as an engineer in Waltham Abbey and his wife worked at Whittles drapers' in Loughton High Street before the pair both got jobs at Oslids in Langston Road, doing paperwork and machining.

“We had a walk around and went on the swings and roundabouts when we first met,” said Mrs Symes. “We got engaged when I was about 19, after he had done two years' national service.

“We have shared our life together and have had our ups and downs, like everybody else, but we do help one another and share.

“I think you have to share in married life. You can't expect everything to go your way.

“We have had lovely, happy memories together and we hope to carry on that way.”

The couple will celebrate their anniversary on the day with friends and their daughter, Trisha White, and son, Mark, have organised a surprise outing with them and their four grandchildren on Saturday.

“They're very good to us and they're making all the arrangements so we've got no idea what we're going to be up to,” said Mrs Symes.