A "good row now and again" could be the secret to a long and happy marriage - that's according to Harold and Valerie Robinson from Chatham who celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today.

Of course, some good times along the way are pretty important too and daughter Rose Jordan explained the couple still love to go on family holidays, most recently to Portugal earlier this year.

But Rose explained things didn't go entirely smoothly right from the start, as she recounted how her parents first met.

"Mum was at the bus stop outside the Hen and Chickens pub on Luton Road," she said. "My dad came out of the pub and asked if he could take my mum out to the pictures. She never answered him, just got on the bus to go home to Wayfield Road where she lived. My dad got on the bus and was still asking to take my mum out. She still said no."

It was only later that Valerie, who worked on farms picking fruit and vegetables, bumped into Harold - aka Squeaker - by chance again while delivering Brussels sprouts to her friend's mum.

"Mum never knew that the man who came out of the pub was her friend's brother Squeaker," said Rose. "They did talk and he finally took my mum out to the Woodsman pub in Weeds Wood where my dad lived on Larkspur Road.

"It went from there and they used to go out on Saturday night to the Flying Saucer in Hempstead Road Gillingham."

Another trip out together took them to Margate, where the couple were given a psychic glimpse into the future.

"There was a fortune-teller there," said Rose. "My dad said to my mum 'have yours done', and the lady told my mum she would have six children.

"They both laughed but they did end up having six children."

The couple were married on November 4 1961 at Luton Church on Luton Road, and had a reception opposite in the church hall.

They then both lived with Harold's mum until moving into their own home in Roosevelt Avenue, before moving to Wayfield Road Chatham where they still live today.

They had six children Diane, Jimmy, Nancy, John, Robert and Rose, who were followed by 16 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

Rose recalled childhood memories of 'fruiting' holidays, when the family would stay in a hop hut in Yalding; and said her mum and dad - now aged 77 and 81 - still love family holidays.

"They love each other very much," said Rose, asked what the secret to the long marriage could be. "They had ups and downs like everyone.

"I've asked my mum that before she said 'have good row now and again' - and they are both Capricorn."

"We all love our mum and dad," she added. "They are our life, they are King and Queen of our family and we love them very dearly."

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