A DIAMOND couple in Oakley are celebrating 60 years together, marking their anniversary later this month.

Raymond and Carol Oliver, both originally from Kempshott, have lived in Pardown, East Oakley, for all their married life.

The couple got married on March 16, 1957, and they will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary this month.

In that time, as well as having three children, two sons and a daughter, they have become grandparents of six and great-grandparents of six.

One of the couple’s three children, David Oliver, said: “They really are fantastic.

“They’re very healthy for their age, they try to keep fit and walk around the area as much as possible.

“They go on trips around to different places when they can.

“They’ve always been a part of the local community, helping out where they can in all sorts of different areas locally.”

Raymond, 85, has played violin for about 50 years in the Basingstoke Symphonic Orchestra and practices his favourite instrument every day, having started to play when he was 16.

In more recent years, following retirement from the orchestra, Mr Oliver plays the violin in a local quartet.

For the majority of his working life, Mr Oliver used to work as a telephone engineer for BT, back when the company was known as the General Post Office, before retiring several years ago.

Daughter-in-law Janet Cox said: “It really is such an achievement in this day and age to reach 60 years of marriage.

“It’s really nice.”

Carol, 80, worked as a librarian, and also helps in the local post office and other areas in the community.

Carol is known around the area for helping to hand out poppies for the Poppy Appeal over several decades.