Ir might have been wartime when they met but celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary a Hanham couple said they have had "60 of the happiest years".

Margaret and Harry Giles, who live in Mount Hill Road, met when they were both volunteering with the army in 1945.

Harry had signed up after his brother had been killed in the Navy and Margaret, whose father was in the armed forces, also wanted to do her bit.

Harry was volunteering with the Glorious Gloucesters and it was when he was stationed out in County Down, Ireland, that he first set eyes on Margaret.

She was originally from Ireland and volunteering with the Royal Army Corps, who were attached to Harry's regiment at that time.

Harry, 81, said: "It was at an army dance, she was a good dancer. Always first on the dance floor and last off.

"That's when we first met but I wasn't a dancer. I used to play darts and take her home afterwards."

The couple married on June 22 in 1949 once they had both left the army.

Margaret, 82, said: "We married in Ireland. It was just after the war and there were still clothing coupons.

"I don't think it was as bad as in England though. I had a white silk wedding dress and we had a real cake. In those times people used to have cardboard cakes because they couldn't afford real ones.

"The tradition was that you didn't cut the cake on the wedding day, but a week later you'd have the 'cutting of the cake' and another party. A great excuse to keep the celebrations going."

The couple honeymooned in the countryside near Dublin and then moved to Speedwell, where Harry was from.

Their first house was in Harewood Road but they soon moved to Sunny Walk.

Harry returned to his job in a factory making boots for the army but also had jobs on the docks and the shipyard, even working on the ss Great Britain.

Margaret worked briefly at the Carson's chocolate factory and later Debenhams in Broadmead.

The couple have four children, Colleen, 58, Janet, 56, Lawrence, 53, and Margaret, 50. They also have 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and say they are very proud of all of them.

Margaret said: "We're a very close family and we're always included in everything. We've been on lots of holidays with the family. Our family is our hobby and where we love spending our time."

They added that the secret to a happy marriage was about respect for each other.

"Harry said: "The secret is letting the wife win all the arguments."

Margaret added: "I think love comes from respect. We never thought we would get to 60 years but then we were so busy living that we didn't think about it.

"Every day is a bonus and we don't worry about the future as long as we have the family around us.

"We've had 60 of the happiest years."

The couple will celebrate with 50 family and friends who will visit this weekend.