Diamond wedding anniversary couple Matthew and Hazel Bodiam were almost in denial.

They found it hard to accept it's been 60 years since they said "I do" at Broadway Methodist Church on January 31, 1959.

Confirming the date, youngest son David sent them an invitation requesting the pleasure of their company at a buffet lunch at the Stevedores Club, Halfway, as honoured guests at their own party.

A card from the Queen clinched it and then they were ready to celebrate.

“Perhaps it’s because we’ve scarcely been apart since our teens we haven’t registered the passing years,” Hazel said.

“But life hasn’t been hum drum.”

She had just turned 16 and was in her first job in accounts at Featherstone’s Broadway since leaving Brenchley House Grammar School when she met Matthew, an apprentice bricklayer in Sheerness Dockyard.

“I was teaching Sunday School at the Congregational Church, Queenborough, when Hazel came over from Sheerness with a friend,” he said.

“That was it. Our only separation was during my National Service with The Buffs.

"After a spell working for the Post Office, I later signed on for nine years in the Army.

"Hazel, and by now, our four children, came with me.”

Service life took them to Berlin and Aden on postings of two years or so at a stretch.

Matthew set up a sub post office unit while with the Royal Engineers working in tandem with the RAF, and Hazel served in the NAAFI.

Once back on Sheppey, they lived with her parents until 1971 when they were allocated the house in Manor Road where they still live.

“It was very different then,” Matthew recalled.

“Nothing in front of us except open marshland.”

They are known in the family affectionately as Noddy and Boo Boo.

A giant teddy bear mascot has these names on a ribbon around his head.

“He was one of a limited edition Valentine’s Day prizes offered by Woolworth to ‘still romantic’ couples more than 30 years ago, and we were lucky to win,” Hazel explained.

Over the years she has worked in accounts at the former Bio Science company in the dockyard, Sheerness Co-operative Society and at the Abbey Motel, Minster.

Matt returned for a short while after Army service to Chatham Dockyard but was happiest as a postman until ill health and severe arthritis forced early retirement.

For almost 20 years he has been dependent on Hazel for even the basic needs.

Happily they have an excellent relationship, although he does duck when he jokingly says “her only fault is not being quite quick enough when I click my fingers”.

They share the same interest in Sheppey history and have amassed more than 27,000 postcards and views which are catalogued and stored in 86 drawers.

"Perhaps it's because we've scarcely been apart since our teens we haven't registered the passing years" - Hazel Bodiam

Both took easily to computers - the first being built for them in 1992 - and spend a couple of hours each day making full use of them.

Matt regrets motorcycling jaunts are no longer possible and he never learned to drive.

So it’s Hazel who is behind the wheel on rare outings and the many hospital appointments.

Neither is materialistic and think today’s young couples want the best of everything too early in relationships.

In their view, they fall apart at the first hurdle and are not prepared to put enough effort into staying together.

They have two boys, two girls, 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and are content to sit and hold hands watching TV – as long as Matt has control of the remote.