DIAMOND couple Tom and Margaret Smith celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Thursday - but they have known each other since school days.

Keen ballroom dancers, they have tripped the light fantastic since they were in the same class at Haveley Hey Junior School, Wythenshawe.

Both left Brownley Green Seconday School at the age of 14 and both headed separate guide and scout troops.

Margaret, aged 87, said: “It was not until he left the RAF in 1944 that we got together when hiking with our charges.” She added: “I couldn’t stand men in the RAF. I called them the Bryl Creem Boys – and then I ended up marrying one!"

Times were hard in 1953 when they wed at St Luke’s Church, Wythenshawe.

Food was still rationed. They had little money – Margaret was one of 13 children – but people rallied around contributing food for their buffet at the local scout hut.

Needless to say, they had a dance at the reception and the pair only stopped ballroom dancing three years ago.

They danced every Saturday night at the RAFA Club in Sale from the 1960s whilst, at the same time waltzing at the Larkhill Centre in Timperley.

“I had to cart the amplifier and speaker from one place to the other,” said Tom, also 87.

Tom gained his Ordinary National Certificate in engineering and eventually became an engineering instructor at West Wythenshawe College.

The pair celebrated last Sunday with their two children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren at the home in Kersal Drive, Timperley where they have lived for 40 years.