A couple from Royston have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and were delighted to receive their second card from the Queen.

Royston Crow: Celebration cake and photo of their wedding day on April 5 1952.Celebration cake and photo of their wedding day on April 5 1952. (Image: Archant)

Geoffrey and Doreen Lonsdale met when they were both 14 in Chapel Street Methodist Church in Blackpool.

Their friendship flourished and they fell in love and they were married in the same church aged 21. Within two years they moved to the home counties for Geoffrey to pursue his career in the dental supply trade.

They moved to Royston in 2009 to be close to their daughter Wendy in Barley and have settled happily into the community as members of the town’s methodist church, where they were given a very warm welcome.

On moving 130 miles and settling down in Royston in their late 70s, they said, “In our married life we have lived in Lancashire, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex and have lifelong friends from living in all these counties. We are very happy to have settled in Hertfordshire, where we see our daughter and son-in-law regularly and we enjoy Royston town very much.”

Geoffrey and Doreen also have sons David and Gordon and all the family reunited for the celebration.

David flew over from his home in New York and Gordon came from his Welsh farmstead to attend the gathering hosted by Wendy and her husband Geoff in Barley.

The secret to their longevity? “Love and respect for each other is essential,” they said.

“Life can be very challenging, but we have taken the rough with the smooth and we have lived and worked together in harmony.”

A special cake was made by Mary’s Cakes of Meldreth and a spray of flowers, corsage and button-hole for the happy couple were created by Barbara’s Flowers of Royston.

Wendy, David and Gordon also presented a bespoke painted plate to their parents to mark the occasion.