A couple who grew up together in the same neighbourhood, have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Rose and Jack Simmons started courting when she was 14-and-a-half and he was 15 when they lived near each other in Northfleet.

They used to go to the area’s youth club at Galley Hill which was attached to the former All Saints Church.

Mrs Simmons, now 79, grew up in Lewis Road and Mr Simmons, who is now 80, in Taunton Road.

The couple currently live in Bellman Avenue, Gravesend.

They celebrated their anniversary on August 2.

They have strong memories of the Second World War, which saw many of their friends and neighbours killed and their homes destroyed during the bombings in 1944. At the start of their courtship, Mrs Simmons used to work in the bottling plant at the former Truman’s brewery in East London.

Mr Simmons was a former special constable and rescued some of his neighbours in flooding following torrential rain in 1965.

He also worked at the former Wiggins Teape paper mills in Dartford, and later at British Uralite as a chauffeur to the directors, minibus driver for workers and fork lift truck instructor.

He later found a job he enjoyed the most which was working at Denton Ship Repairers Ltd, working on the river.

The couple have three children, Dawn Fisher, Martin Simmons and Kirsty Dray, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Their youngest daughter, Mrs Dray said: “Dad loves cycling and still used a push bike on a recent holiday to Centre Parcs. He also gave us a scare by going on his first-ever flume ride and got stuck underwater in the tube. Needless to say he was rescued and was looking for his next adventure.

“Mum now enjoys her handicrafts and still goes into children’s groups to share her skills.”