BRENDA and Peter Darrington celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at a family reunion with a congratulatory telegram from The Queen.

The couple, who live in High Wycombe, first met at the age of 14 when their families were evacuated from London to the town during the Blitz.

They then found themselves working together at Walter F Baker, the aircraft parts factory in Bellfield, and started courting at the age of 16.

They married on September 8, 1945, at the ages of 17 and 18, while Peter was in the army.

The celebrations that day 60 years ago were sparse compared to nowadays, and the honeymoon was three days spent in the blackout at Brighton.

During their working lives they were familiar faces in High Wycombe: Brenda at Murrays Department Store, and Peter at Milletts, Greenfields and Blacks Menswear and Camping Equipment, then as a freelance ticket and signwriter.

He often did the posters for the Free Press.

Nowadays they are both leading lights in the Disabled Friendship Club.

Their Diamond Wedding celebrations were held at the Bluefish Restaurant, Portland, Dorset, which is owned by the daughter and granddaughter of Peter's world-famous brother, Fred Darrington, who amazed visitors to Weymouth with his sand sculptures for more than 60 years.

Among the 40 relatives present were Fred's grandson Mark Anderson, who has taken over the sand modelling and Fred's daughter Jeanne Darrington of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow.

Also present were the couple's three children, Susan, Paul, and Wycombe musician Steve Darrington, and their families, including two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.