Boxer Allan Buxton met his love match when he spotted Pauline Crawley at a school dance.

Now more than 60 years later, the couple will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary tomorrow (Thursday).

And they will share their happy milestone with more than 120 family and friends with a party at the Metropolitan Police Sports Club in Bushey.

Pauline, née Crawley, was born in Hemel Hempstead and moved with her family to Briar Road, Watford, as a young girl.

She attended Kingsway School and later worked in the shoe department at Cawdells, in Watford town centre.

Allan was born in Carey Place, Watford. When he was three, his family moved to Sotheron Road and he attended St Andrew's Infant School, opposite his house. He later went to Beechen Grove School and Victoria Boys' School.

He and his brothers – Joe, Laurie and Alex – would become known as the famous Buxton boxing brothers, who all turned professional in the sport.

In 1949, they made history by all featuring on the same bill at Watford Town Hall, and all winning.

But it was as a ten year old, in 1937, that Allan had his first taste inside a boxing ring.

When he left school, he joined the Sea Cadets and would box for them before joining Harrow Boxing Club.

During the latter half of World War Two, Allan volunteered to join the Navy (his brothers had all joined the Army), but as an apprentice toolmaker, his was a reserved occupation.

Then in 1945, Allan and Pauline met for the first time at a school dance.

Allan recalled: “I fancied Pauline and I managed to chat to her friend and danced with her friend and then I walked Pauline home and arranged to meet her the following day, and it blossomed from there.

“[The next day] I went by bus and walked down Briar Road. When I got to her house, her dad was in the garden digging. I wasn't so sure of myself so walked on by but he called for me and said: 'You here for Pauline?' That sealed my fate.”

Allan and Pauline married at Christ Church, in St Albans Road, before enjoying a reception at Leavesden Village Hall on April 29, 1950.

“It was a lovely wedding,” said Pauline.

The newlyweds first lived together in Hillingdon Road, Watford, before spending two-and-a-half years with Pauline's parents.

They later moved to a council house in Long Elms, Abbots Langley, before swapping it for their current home in Ashridge Drive, Bricket Wood, in 1967.

In 1949, Allan won the amateur boxing championships and it was in the same year he turned professional, after he was omitted from the British squad for the Oslo Games.

However, he retired from the sport in 1954, having returned to work as a toolmaker two years earlier.

Then in 1958, when his father Claude died, Allan inherited his driving A-licence and became a haulage contractor until he retired at 65.

Meanwhile, Pauline demonstrated and sold a range of products, including Tupperware, cookware and pottery.

The couple also had two children, daughter Lynn and son Allan, and now have three grandchildren.

In retirement, Allan became involved in the community with the residents' association and local neighbourhood watch scheme, while the couple have spent the last 25 years raising money for Mencop, a charity for people with learning difficulties.

And in 2003, Pauline and Allan flew to Antigua to renew their wedding vows.

Looking back on the last 60 years, Allan, 83, said: “We've always been in love. We've never had any rifts.”

Pauline, 79, added: “We do very well. It's great really. You get differences sometimes but it's been years now. We've been very happy together. He looks after me ever so well.”