A CHANCE meeting in a Colwall pub, and a lift home after the last bus, led to a lifetime of romance for Ledbury's diamond wedding couple, John and Irene Robson.

The couple will be celebrating 60 years of marriage this month, and they recently looked back on how it all began.

Mr Robson said it was something of "a whirlwind romance".

They met in the Horse and Jockey pub in the February or March, they were engaged by the May, and by October 25, 1958, there were wedding bells at Bosbury Church.

Nr Robson enjoyed a number of interesting professions, including training as a farrier under an apprenticeship.

But it was his work with a hop picking factory which saw him posted on business behind the Iron Curtain, including to the then East Germany and the Soviet Union.

He said: "They treated us very well, but you didn't talk politics!"

Irene worked for many years as a domestic for girls' colleges in Malvern, for a bank manager and for a director of Bulmers' cider.

The couple lived in Bramley Close, Ledbury for several years, but they now live in Bourne Court, New Street, Ledbury.

Mr Robson was brought up in Bosbury, while Irene moved to Malvern from Wales at the age of 14.

After their marriage they lived in Bosbury for a short while before moving to Malvern. They then moved to Hereford when John took a job at the Henry Wiggin wire mill, and also lived in Leominster before moving to Ledbury.

John is a keen gardener, and the couple’s gardens at Bramley Close scooped a number of cups in the Ledbury in Bloom awards.

Both agree that the old adage of “a little give and take” is the secret to a long-lasting marriage.

And Irene added: "Be as happy as you can."