Taking joy in your family is the secret to wedded bliss

Ted and Rosemary Blackburn, of Nunnery Wood, Worcester, who are celebrating their diamond wedding today, met on a blind date to the cinema.

Neither can remember the film showing that night but they both fell in love and are still going strong after 60 years.

“You keep going, in spite of the downs and because of the ups,” explained Mrs Blackburn, aged 82.

“It’s our family that keeps us going.” “It’s a bit like that TV programme Waiting For God,” quipped Mr Blackburn, aged 85.

The loving couple, sharing jokes in the conservatory at their home in Prestwich Avenue, are looking forward to a family knees-up at the Red Lion in Holt Heath, near their son’s home, on Saturday.

The couple met at the Scala Cinema in Angel Place, Worcester, in the 1940s with Mr Blackburn working as an engineer for Hennan and Froude.

As a reserve occupation, he was helping the war effort as the factory churned out materiel for Horsa gliders – used in the D-Day campaign – mounts for machine – guns and anti-aircraft guns.

Mrs Blackburn worked at the Guildhall for the Ministry of Fuel and Power, which doled out coal rations as German bombs fell on Britain.

The couple were married at St Stephen’s Church, Worcester, in 1949 and had two children, Jill and Roger.

Travelling the world was a favourite pastime, and the couple have been to Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Greece, Malta, Germany and, lastly, Canada, in 1999.

Mr Blackburn still has a love for foreign cuisine and is keen on keftedes – Greek-style meatballs.

Meanwhile, his passion for machines led to him restoring cars in retirement, including a 1930s Austin 7 saloon named Aida.

His wife is president of Oak Apple Women’s Institute and a keen craftswoman, recently helping knit 150 woolly hats for fishermen.