A letter from the Queen and a huge party at Maidstone United’s ground helped a Burham couple celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in style.

Fred and Irene Austin married on September 25, 1948, and have been together ever
since.

To mark the occasion a party was held at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday where they were joined by more than 120 guests and were presented with the letter from Buckingham Palace.

The couple worked as pub landlords, running the Merry Boys in Pound Road, East Peckham, and the Sugar Loaves in Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne.

Daughter Jackie Brady said: “They had a fantastic time at the party and they were thrilled to be joined by so many family members and friends.

“Being publicans, they both still enjoy a drink and they didn’t get home until midnight.

“They’re still very much in love now, my dad still tries makes an effort to be romantic and is holding out for the 70th anniversary.”

Fred, 88 and Irene, 84, of Rochester Road Burham, both hail from London’s East End. They met at a dance during the Second World War. Fred had to leave and was Singapore as a marine.

After his return, the pair reunited and married in Millwall three years later. Fred was 23 and Irene 19.

They have five daughters, 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.