A COUPLE who met at a dance in Weymouth have just celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary.

Jean, 80, and Douglas Sexton, 81, met at the Ritz, now Weymouth Pavilion, and shared a dance on Boxing Day.

Jean, who was born and bred in Dorchester, then couldn’t go to the weekly dances for a month, but Douglas went every week hoping to meet her again.

The pair were married on October 3, 1953, in the same church that Jean was also christened and confirmed in – St Peter’s in Dorchester. They spent a happy honeymoon in Southsea.

At the time Douglas was in the Royal Air Force doing his national service and Jean was working in Lloyds Bank in the county town.

The couple moved several times around the Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland areas before settling in Crossways where they remain today.

Jean continued working in the bank until the birth of the couple’s son Nigel. A few years later his sister Jane was born and when the children were both over five, Jean went to work in Boots in Dorchester where she stayed for 32 years. She said it was a ‘very happy time’.

Douglas worked as an installation foreman for the Southern Electricity Board. He enjoyed playing cricket, football and bowls at various times and has represented the county in all of them. For their 60th wedding anniversary the couple went away for a few days to Sidmouth. Jean said the secret of their happiness was loving and caring for each other.

She said: “I think it’s give and take.

“We don’t have real arguments.

“Loving each other and caring for each other.”