A couple who share a passion for playing the organ have celebrated their diamond anniversary.
Diana and Douglas Carter of Worlingham celebrated their milestone yesterday, and celebrated at the weekend with 60 members of family and friends.
They met at the age of 17 after Mr Carter moved to Beccles with his parents and six younger brothers.
At the time, Mr Carter had a part-time job at Tooks Bakery in the town and was working in the evenings at the Regal Cinema in Ballygate - next door to where Mrs Carter lived.
He also did two years national service, including 18 months in Germany, with the Army Catering Corps.
The couple got married at St Michael’s Church in Beccles on October 27, 1956, and had their reception at the Caxton Club.
They have five children together, Denise, Derek, Andrew, Adrian and Kevin, as well as six grandchildren.
They moved to various homes in Beccles as their family grew, and later moved to their home in Worlingham.
But it wasn’t until Mr Carter retired from William Clowes printing works in Beccles in 2000 - after working in various roles as a chef - that their love for playing the organ developed.
Mr Carter, now 81, said: “When I retired Diana said ‘you better get yourself a hobby.’ There was an advert in the paper for Lowrey senior citizens music classes at Allens Music Shop in Great Yarmouth so I went along and took Diana with me and we ended up both joining.
“When we first joined it was a 10-week course to learn the basics and at the end of the 10 weeks you got a certificate. Now we just go to meet up with friends and have a little tinkle.”
The couple play once a week with friends and have their own organ at home. Their favourite song is Eternally, the theme from Limelight, which they used to hear playing from the back of the cinema when they said goodnight to each other after walking home in the evenings.
Mr and Mrs Carter had an anniversary meal and party at the Carlton Manor Hotel in Carlton Colville last Saturday and invited friends and family round to their home yesterday.
Instead of presents, the couple asked for donations to the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
When asked the secret to their long and happy marriage, Mrs Carter, 80, said: “We just help each other out. We are homely people and our family has always come first.”
Are you celebrating a special milestone? Email the details to amy.smith@archant.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here