Southampton couple 65 years after wedding reported in The Echo

The pair still have a clipping of the 1955 article covering the ceremony.

Joan and William Moore (aged 83 and 90) were both born in the Chapel area of Southampton and still reside in the city.

They were married in a joint ceremony with Joan’s elder sister Jean and her husband Maurice, September 24 1955 at St Mary’s Church, Southampton.

The couple met when William was swimming in the river Itchen – “I’d been swimming, I was laying on the grass and along came (Joan), and we started talking,” he said.

Stuck on what to say, William asked Joan to go to the shop and buy him a pint of milk.

“She got it…but she dropped it I think,” he said.

William described his wedding day as “beautiful.”

"The wedding was set for 3 o'clock in the afternoon, before that all my mates and myself got together and had a few drinks. (Joan) was with her sister preparing to come to the church."

William then remembers “a slight hiccup” in proceedings.

Whilst older sister Jean’s taxi managed to cross a railway crossing and arrive at the chapel on time, the barrier closed immediately after, leaving Joan stranded and eventually late to the ceremony.

“Joan couldn’t get through until the train had passed”, said William, admitting he wondered whether he had been left at the altar.

“At the end of the ceremony the vicar stood up and said ‘I must congratulate this congregation, I’ve never heard such hearty singing in all my life,” remembered William.

The couple's daughter, Lesley, said she would describe the partnership her parents have as "outdoorsy"and "fun-loving", adding that the two are "just always there for each other."

She also described her parents as "adventurous" as the pair emigrated to Australia with four young children when Joan was 25 and William 32.

When asked for the most important piece of advice they would give newlyweds for a strong marriage, the pair were in agreement.

“Telling the truth. Have no secrets.”