A COUPLE from Oakley were one of the last to receive a diamond wedding anniversary card from the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Annie and Keith Fowler are celebrating an incredible 60 years of marriage, in the same year that they both turned 80.

The couple were delighted to receive a card from The Queen before her death and are planning to have it framed.

The pair met in Annie’s hometown of Northold, in Middlesex in October 1960 at the Bryon Hotel at a fundraising disco / dance run by the Scouts.

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Recalling the moment, Annie said: “Our eyes met towards the end of the evening. Keith looked just like my idol, Buddy Holly, so I walked from my table of many friends and family, took a big breath and walked over to his table.

“Luckily, all his friends were all dancing, so shyly I asked if he would like to dance. He was rather merry from his beers but said yes. That was the start of our new life together. Mind, he always reminds me of my request to dance first, even to this day.”

Annie and Keith went for a coffee in Greenford – Keith’s hometown – for their second date before he surprised her with a trip to visit a motorbike exhibition at Earls Court for their third meet-up.

“It was certainly not my cup of tea,” admitted Annie, adding: “But after all this he did take me to dinner, to a nice restaurant to make me feel better.”

The couple married on September 1, 1962 in St Mary’s Church in Northolt, before moving in with Keith’s parents in Greenford where they spent the next four years.

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Annie worked as a telephonist at Ilford Films while Keith works as an electrician at SEB.

The couple accepted an offer to move to Basingstoke as part of the overspill scheme.

Five years later Annie was expecting their first child and the couple finally moved to Basingstoke in 1966 with their baby son Anthony.

The family welcomed a new arrival, daughter Julie, in 1969 who was born on the eve of the moon landing.

Their third child, Suzanne, was born in September 1972.

The family later moved from Oakridge to Winklebury where Keith built a bungalow with the help of a friend, having become a builder and electrician.

Annie took a job as a play school manager at the former Fort Hill Community School in Winklebury. 

In 1980 the family moved again to Oakley into another bungalow built by Keith and the firm of builders he was working for.

The couple, who now have six grandchildren and a great grandson, have stayed in the village ever since, and their family all live nearby.

They marked their 60th wedding anniversary by going on a mini cruise before celebrating with family and friends.