COUPLES whose love has stood the test of time celebrated their milestone anniversaries at a special reception hosted by the borough’s mayor.

A total of 19 couples joined Basingstoke and Deane Mayor Councillor Roger Gardiner and his wife Tricia at the Civic Offices, in London Road.

Fifteen of the couples are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary during the current mayoral year and four have reached the diamond milestone.

Roy and Pam Monger were one of those to have celebrated 50 years of marriage.

The happy couple, of Moat Close, Bramley, both lived in Lane End, Bramley and began dating five years before they tied the knot on March 27, 1965 at St James Church in the village.

The pair went on to have two children and three grandchildren.

Roy, who previously worked in the maintenance department at AWE in Aldermaston, told The Gazette: “It has been brilliant.”

The 77-year-old is now a carer to Pam after she suffered a stroke which left her wheelchair bound in 2011.

Pam said: “We made a promise in the church so we have kept it even in sickness and health. Since I had the stroke, he has been there 24/7.”

Devoted couple Maurice and Shirley Vickery, of Aldworth Crescent, South Ham, reached their diamond wedding anniversary on March 26.

The couple first met in June 1953 at The Railway Arms near Basingstoke railway station when Shirley, who lived in Reading, went on a work outing and Maurice was in the pub with a friend.

Following two years together, Maurice, now 82, and Shirley, now 79, got married at St Giles Church, in Reading, and the couple have three children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Shirley told The Gazette: “He takes very good care of me and I don’t know what I would do without him.”

Maurice added: “We have worked hard for what we have got.”

Cllr Gardiner said: “It is wonderful to see so many people who have survived 50 and 60 years of marriage.

“I am coming up to 17 years of marriage in July and I am looking forward to many more.”