AN INNOCUOUS spilling of half a pint down a dress in July 1954 has led to 60 years of marriage.

During the interval of a dance in The Plough in Longparish Kenneth Levitt bumped into his future wife, Iris, literally.

Iris said: The first thing Ken did was tip half a pint of lager on my new dress.

When we went back to dance he asked me if I wanted to dance.

He almost got away too as he was just two months away from being de-mobbed.

Ken, 83, and Iris, 81, of Charnwood Close, were married at St Mary’s Church, Andover on 21 January 1956.

The newlyweds went to stay with Ken’s family in Bexleyheath for their honeymoon so that they could visit the sights in London.

“It’s only half an hour away from all the main attractions,” said Ken.

Ken was originally posted to Andover with the RAF from his home in West Yorkshire in 1952.

It was during this period that he first met Iris.

He followed up his time in the RAF with a career which saw him work as a cinema projectionist in Andover and Winchester, a DER (Domestic Electric Rentals) Ltd employee and as a technical assistant at Harroway School.

Ken also kept himself busy with his hobby as an amateur radio enthusiast.

Iris joined Ken in the cinema for a while, then worked at Currys for 21 years before becoming a housewife.

The couple’s shared hobby is to make beautiful music together with their love of keyboard playing.

Iris and Ken say that they have always got on very well and that has been the key to their long marriage.

Iris said: “Sometimes I think it’s a case of agreeing to disagree.

Although the couple never had any children of their own they are still surrounded by plenty of family with seven nieces and nephews, nine great nieces and nephews and one great great nephew.

The pair, who renewed their vows at their Golden anniversary, had a more subdued celebration this time round with friends and family visiting them at their home.

“We are home birds really,” added Iris.