Christmas Day and Good Friday were the only days Leslie Brewer could get off from the Bristol newsagent's he worked at back in 1948.

But he managed to organise his wedding for Christmas, which was not uncommon then.

Leslie, 86, and his wife Rosa, 81, celebrated their diamond anniversary at their home in Stockwood, where they have lived since 1963.

The couple grew up in Little Victoria Street, off Stapleton Road in Easton, but with a five year age difference did not spend much time together.

That changed when they met again in 1947, when Rosa was working as a nurse at Southmead Hospital and Leslie had returned from six years in the RAF supporting front-line troops.

He asked Rosa out to the pictures, and the next year they were married at Easton Congregational Church.

Leslie worked at his cousin's newsagent's, which only closed two days in the year.

Rosa said: "Lots of people used to get married at Christmas back then. The only problem with getting married on that day was that the photographer did not turn up – he had too many festive drinks and forgot to come."

Leslie went on to work for Cawardines, supervising vans for 17 years, before working as an autoclave assistant sterilising instruments in Bristol general hospital and the BRI and retiring in 1982.

Rosa stopped working when the couple married, with the hope of starting a family.

"Unfortunately, children never came along, and this was before the time of IVF so there was nothing we could do. It was a big disappointment, but that's life," she said.

"We have been very, very happy – we have lots of nieces and nephews who came to visit and they have been like our children."

The Bristol couple spent 10 months with Rosa's brother in Australia after Leslie retired.

"We have always enjoyed holidays and have been able to go to lots of lovely places," said Rosa.

"The secret to a long and happy marriage is give and take, and being honest with each other."