Childhood friends Llew and Margaret Meredith have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

As children, Llew Meredith and Margaret Bone were neighbours in Sheepcot Lane. Both attended Stanborough Park School and attended Stanborough Park Church. Their close friendship turned to love and they were married in Stanborough Park Church on October 28, 1955.

Llew, then 18, was an apprentice engineer and Margaret, 17, a telephone receptionist.

Mrs Meredith said: “We met when I was 10 and my husband was 11 through church and school.

"We were friendly and we stayed friends, then when we were in our teens we fell in love with each other.”

The couple made their first home in South Way, Abbots Langley, where they brought up their two daughters, Corinne and Sharon.

In 1981 they moved to their present home in Swiss Close, Watford. They are now proud grandparents of four grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, and are looking forward to the arrival of another one in February.

Mrs Meredith, 77, said her advice to anyone starting a marriage is to “work together, love each other loads and always sort differences out before you close your eyes at night”.

She said: “We have always put our faith and trust in God and he’s led us through the last 60 years.”

Mr Meredith, 78, added: “Family is very important to us. We’ve loved having our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

“For a marriage to be successful you mustn’t be selfish and always put your wife first.”

Mr Meredith was an engineer for most of his working life, finishing his career in insurance.

Mrs Meredith worked as a secretary at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church for 42 years.

Now retired, the couple are keen caravanners and enjoy travelling, walking and reading.

They celebrated their anniversary with a party at the Aubrey Park Hotel in Redbourn.