Double diamond wedding

So they should be. Both couples are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversaries!

And they have been friends since meeting over the garden fence 58 years ago.

Albert, 87, originally from Glynde and a butcher in Ringmer for 30 years, met Eileen when he was stationed with the army in Northern Ireland.

He met her as she came out of college, and they were married in Shankhill on June 10, 1942.

Two years later the couple met and befriended their new neighbours Alfred and Doris in Uckfield and the four have been firm friends ever since, regularly holidaying together.

Alfred, 82, originally from Nutley, met Doris at a dance in Buckinghamshire. They were married at Wolverton on February 6, 1943. Alfred was a well known builder in the Uckfield area for many years.

'We are all lucky to have been happily married for 60 years,' said Albert. 'We are also all lucky to have had each other as such good friends for so long.'

Eileen's recipe for a successful marriage: 'Remain best friends, no matter what happens.'

And Doris' best suggestion: 'Do things together. Weather it together.'