A COUPLE celebrating their 63rd anniversary have said the secret to a long and happy marriage is perseverance.

Cirencester husband and wife Ken and Edie Prior did not let anything stand in the way of their special occasion. They celebrated the milestone event earlier this week at the town's hospital, where Ken had been admitted several weeks before with an ulcerated leg.

Ken, 87, said it was the first anniversary he had missed in all the years he and his wife had been married.

The Chesterton couple first met at Kemble Airport. Edie, aged 25 at the time, was working on the planes and Ken, aged 24, worked in the armoury. Their friendship grew as they continued to work alongside each other and they were soon married in 1951 with a service in Oaksey.

Edie honestly admitted that their secret to a long and happy marriage is to "just keeping going".

"Naturally like other couples we have had our ups and downs and quarrels," added Ken, who was registered as blind while still in his thirties. "She has put up with my tantrums. I think I have had quite a lot."

The couple toasted their anniversary on Monday at the hospital with a special glass of sherry. Their daughter, Sheila, also came along to visit as Edie turned 90 the day after the pair's anniversary.

"Sheila gave me a big birthday party," said Edie. "17 people were there, but of course Ken was in hospital."

Also celebrating the two occasions with them at Cirencester Hospital was healthcare assistant Rhondda (CORR) May who has known the couple since she was 11 years old.

"I used to live round the corner from them on the estate in Chesterton and Sheila was the year above me at school," said Rhondda, who works on Coln Ward. "I've worked with Ken before and it's just an honour to look after someone for so long."

Ken was due to leave hospital earlier this week and hopes to celebrate his anniversary and his wife's birthday again at home.