A couple in their nineties who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this week, have been described by staff members at their nursing home as an “absolute delight”.

John and Joan McKenney, both 90, celebrated the milestone with a party at Buckingham House Care Home off Oxford Road in Gerrards Cross.

Manager Colleen Joubert said they were role models for some of the home’s younger carers because of how affectionate they are with each other.

She said: “They are an absolute delight. It is lovely to see in this day and age people [of their age] holding hands. They are very affectionate with each other.

“They are really emotionally dependent on each other. When they see each other you can see the delight on their faces.

“They are always pleased to see each other which you don’t see very often in this world.”

Pete Vickery, whose father Derek is also a resident in the home, said Mrs McKenney, who used to work as a dentist, is “very caring and very concerned” about her husband, who was a doctor.

Speaking about the party, which he attended, he said: “There were entertainers in on the day. We sang lots of songs, Irish songs, for them. Everyone in the home was invited and came, as well as their family.

“Everyone had a really good time and they did too.”

Lynny Meazza, senior healthcare assistant at the care home said the couple, who have been at the home for more than a year, stay in two different rooms but always go in to see each other and eat most meals together.

She said: “They enjoy each other’s company. They are very affectionate towards each other, always holding hands.

“John is great, such a lovely character. When he takes his medication he says it is his beauty treatment. They are just a lovely couple.”

Ms Meazza said their family – two sons, a daughter and several grandchildren – “mean the world to them”.

Since the couple married in 1956, there have been 13 UK Prime Ministers, one England World Cup win, the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana and later, the now Duchess of Cornwall, and the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations.