A COUPLE who have given a lifetime of work to the farming industry celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with family.

David and Barbara Tucker who met through the Young Farmers club in 1945 hosted a party at their home with their four children, seven grandchildren and six grandchildren.

The couple also celebrated with a dinner with two of their bridesmaids in Lyme Regis.

Mr Tucker, 93 was born at Whaddon Grove farm, where he and Mrs Tucker lived for the rest of their lives.

His grandfather bought the farm 100 years ago and it has been run by the family ever since.

Mrs Tucker was born in a maternity nursing home in Corsham and spent her childhood living in Forrest, Melksham.

Leaving school at 16, Mrs Tucker became a photo printer at a factory in Melksham and was the chairman of the town;s Young Farmers’ Club.

Mrs Tucker’s grandfather was a farmer so agriculture ran in her family.

Mr Tucker was the chairman of the Trowbridge Young Farmer’s club and they met a club gathering at Christmas.

The pair married at St Michael and All Angels Church in Melksham four years later in 1949. They had their wedding reception in Melksham Town Hall.

Mrs Tucker said: “We had a wonderful wedding day, the town hall was such a lovely building to have our reception in.

“I remember we had such lovely weather, it was a really hot day.”

Mrs Tucker moved into Whaddon Grove Farm with her new husband and they had their first child, Elizabeth in 1951.

They went on to have three more children, Nicholas, Melanie and Sam. Now the couple have seven grandchildren, ranging between the ages of 25 to 35, and six great grandchildren aged from just six weeks to seven.

Mrs Tucker added: “I would say the key to a long and successful marriage is hard work, determination and contentment.”