It's 60 years since they were married in Richmond with Barbara holding deep red roses and wearing a dress and veil hired from Moss Bros - because as a Wren during the war she had to use all her coupons for "civilian" clothing.

They met when both were on duty in Chatham Royal Naval Barracks - Peter was a seaman who joined up in June 1940 and worked in electrics before becoming a Leading Torpedo Operator. He was on the cruiser Liverpool which was due to go out to Japan and was meanwhile staying in barracks as quartermaster, which led to his meeting with Barbara who was in charge of "vitelling". It was after placing an order for tea and supplies that she offered him an extra tot of Pusser's Rum and the friendship grew from there.

Barbara, who is now 85, was born in Battersea and grew up in Teddington before her family moved to Hampton. She left school to do office work and soon after war started she joined the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington where her job was testing thermometers. She became a Wren in 1942.

Peter, 86, is a "true cockney" having been born at St Bart's - within the sound of Bow Bells. He grew up in Queens Park in North West London and after school entered the world of publishing, working for Methuen & Co near The Strand.

Having married the couple settled in Hampton before moving to Broadstairs where they raised their son Stephen. Barbara was a full-time mother who became a volunteer for Barnados while Peter set up his own electrical contracting business.

The family moved to Bexhill in 1971 so that Peter could travel more easily for work, and they later set up TVC video shop in Devonshire Road.

Both have been keen members of the local branch of the Royal Naval Association since it started in Bexhill 15 years ago, and also belong to St Augustine's church. They are both proud of their connection with the Federation of Small Businesses having been founder members.

Peter helped set up the East Sussex regional branch in Polegate and continues there as a special advisor - he was recently involved in a demonstration outside the House of Commons and was interviewed in the Telegraph newspaper as a result.

They mark their anniversary with son Stephen and his wife Ann, and this weekend plan a celebratory lunch party with friends in St Augustine's church hall.

Having reached their 60 years, Peter said: "You have got to be true friends to survive a long time in marriage. You have to trust each other 100 percent - and of course you have to learn to give and take.
Barbara added: "A true friend is someone you can be completely open with - and stick by each other through thick and thin."