YOUNG couples tying the knot should not expect marriage to be a bed of roses, according to Eric and Mary Barrett from Wroughton.

And they should know better than anyone, as they celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today.

The couple, of Moormead Road in Wroughton, have thrown four parties to celebrate the occasion and have so many cards they haven’t been able to read them all yet.

“For our 25th and 50th anniversaries we had big marquees with hundreds of people, but this year we thought we are getting a bit old so we would split it into four parties,” said 83-year-old Eric.

The couple met as youngsters when Mary, also 83, moved from Wanborough to Wroughton at the age of five.

Formerly a domestic science teacher, Mary gave up the job and went to work with Eric at the family business – Barrett & Son Wheelwrights and Blacksmiths.

Eric said: “We met at the butchers one Saturday morning, but I always knew of her.

“The first time we went out together I think was when I had to take a trailer up to Gloucester one evening for the business, and Mary came for the ride.”

The couple married at the age of 23 in Wroughton Church before honeymooning in Perranporth, Cornwall.

“Weddings were different 60 years ago,” said Mary.

“We didn’t have any money and everything was still rationed, even clothes, so I made all the bridesmaid dresses, the cake and my own dress.

“We didn’t have a disco in the evening like they do these days.

“We went on honeymoon, and because we didn’t have motorways then it seemed like a long way to travel to Cornwall. I think it took us about two days to get there. It was an adventure, but our whole life has been an adventure.”

They went on to have three children called David, Susan and Mark, and four grandchildren – Henry, 24, Florence, 21, Rosie, 17 and Alice, 14.

Mary, who works at the Prospect Hospice shop in Marlborough, said: “Our family have gone on to marry people from Norway, Pakistan and Germany but in our day people married local people.

“We have never considered moving out of Wroughton, although when I look back, I think we may have thought about emigrating to New Zealand when we were younger but the business was here.

“Wroughton is pleasant, but we used to know everybody because it was so much smaller, and nowadays people aren’t as friendly but things will change over a period of 60 years – it is a long time.”

And the secret to their successful marriage? A disagreement every now and again is not as bad as it seems.

Eric said: “People say things like ‘we never have a cross word and our children are perfect’ but you shouldn’t believe a word of it. Our children are far from perfect but they are wonderful in different ways.

“We have always been happy to disagree with one another for a short period of time. We’ve always worked hard and always kept busy.”