A BEWDLEY couple celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary with a trip on the Severn Valley Railway, surrounded by three generations of their family.

John and Ruth Williams, of Stephenson Place, in Bewdley, first met at the Bath Young Conservatives when they were 24 and 18.

Eighty-eight-year-old John said: “We got married at a small family church in Bath on August 16, 1952 – it was a low key affair.

“I served in the army for three years. After that I joined a packaging company in Bristol and eventually became a director of overseas operations.

“When we both retired, we moved to Bewdley 13 years ago. It is a very nice place.”

The couple had four children – Stuart, Elizabeth, Sally and Nicholas – and now have nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

While Ruth, 84, enjoys tapestry and needle work, they both enjoy the railway and trains – so it seemed ideal for them to celebrate their anniversary with family at Severn Valley.

John said: “Our trip to Severn Valley Railway for our anniversary was a huge family success.

“We had 19 members of our family with us, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was a really wonderful, successful and happy day with our family – we love them dearly.

“The people at Severn Valley were magnificent. They had us headboard made which we got to keep – it is now on display at our home.”

When asked what the secret to a happy marriage was, John said “love” and that family is really important.

He added: “In my job I had to travel the world a lot and family is very important.

“The reason our marriage has lasted so long is because of love. You have to work on love.

“It is a like a thin sheet of glass, which can shatter easily. You have got to work on it.”