A COUPLE from Crediton who are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary say that they have no secrets to the success of their marriage but believe it was just meant to be.

Horace and Doris Crispin, who live at Greenway, Crediton, met when Mr Crispin's family moved close to where Mrs Crispin was living in Zeal Monachorum.

Mrs Crispin, aged 79, said: "When Horace moved from Dartmouth as a teenager we got to know each other because the village was so small.

"We courted for a couple of years and were 19 and 22 when we got married at St Peter's Church in the village in 1948.

At the time Mr Crispin was working on a local farm and the couple moved into a tithed farm cottage. Mrs Crispin said: "It didn't have electricity in those days and we sourced water from a well, but we have fond memories because it was our first home so it was special to us."

Mr and Mrs Crispin went to Exmouth for their honeymoon. Mrs Crispin explained: "It seemed like a real excursion in those days."

After seven years in Zeal the couple moved to East Village, then Sandford and finally Greenway where they have lived for 35 years.

Mrs Crispin worked in the office at Lee's stores in Crediton and after her children grew up she worked as a cook supervisor at Sandford Primary School for 12 years.

Mr Crispin spent the latter years of his career before retirement at Pauls Agriculture, Lords Meadow.

Mrs Crispin is pleased to see the moves by schools back to healthier meals. "It is good to see that things are going back to being more like the cooking that we were trained to do."

Mrs Crispin says that the highlights of their married life have been the births of their children.

She said: "We have had some lovely years together. I do not think we have any special secrets to the success of our marriage. We have always been fortunate, maybe something was just meant to be."

The couple celebrated 60 years together with family and close friends at a lunch at the Devonshire Dumpling in Morchard. "We did not want a grand affair as we are both getting older now, so it was nice to have a quiet celebration with our family as we are very family orientated," said Mrs Crispin.

The couple have a son who now lives in Bradninch, a daughter in Exeter and four grandchildren.

They were delighted to receive a card from the Queen.