A SOUTHAMPTON couple will be celebrating their diamond anniversary this week after 60 years of marriage.

Ex-Hampshire Constabulary Inspector Rod Hoare, 81, and retired victim support officer Jeane Hoare, 79, have lived in the city all their lives after they first met in 1960 at an Andover Young Farmers Club meeting.

Jeane attended the club with her stepfather, who was a farmer, and Rod worked on farms when he left school.

They became weded two years after their first meeting and have been living in the same bungalow in Southampton ever since.

The married couple now have three sons, eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and said “Christmas can be quite expensive”.

Rod was an inspector for 30 years before spending his last few years before retirement as a security guard for British American Tobacco.

Rod said: “My best memory with Jeane is going to America for three weeks with her when I retired – we went to New York."

Jeane said: “We have had a good life together, and we have had our moments, but everyone argues and whoever says they don’t is lying.

“He is somebody to lean on when I can’t walk very far and he looks after me – he’s very supportive and sometimes I joke that he’s my carer.”

She added: “My favourite memory is having our children.”