A COUPLE evacuated to Malvern during the war to help radar development celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary last week.

Donald and Peggy Tomlin, both 83, toasted 60 years of married life at their Church Road home on Thursday (December 20).

They pair met aged 17, when they were attending the Central Secondary School in Sheffield. Both went to Sheffield University, where Mr Tomlin studied physics and Mrs Tomlin general science.

The couple moved to Malvern in 1942 to work at what was then the Air Defence Research and Development Establishment, part of the organisation now known as QinetiQ. He was a physicist/engineer, while she worked as a mathematician.

After the war, Mr Tomlin continued to work at DRDE while Mrs Tomlin taught science at schools including Malvern Girls' College and Abbey College.

Mrs Tomlin has been involved with the Guides since her teenage years, and spent 20 years as leader of the 12th Malvern troop. Since retiring, they have taken an active interest in the affairs of their old university. Mr Tomlin is also chairman of the Malvern Family History Society.

They have two daughters, Joan and Eileen, and two grand-daughters, Yvonne and Rachel.