A COUPLE from Thurlton have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary after meeting on the “oche”.Eric and Doris Leach, who have lived in Meadow Close for 13 years, celebrated the milestone with their family at Browston Manor, near Fritton, and are currently on a week-long trip to Southwold.

A COUPLE from Thurlton have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary after meeting on the “oche”.

Eric and Doris Leach, who have lived in Meadow Close for 13 years, celebrated the milestone with their family at Browston Manor, near Fritton, and are currently on a week-long trip to Southwold.

Eric, who is 88 in a week's time, and Doris, 82, are originally from London, and first met at a pub in Hemel Hemstead in 1947 where they were both playing for the pub's darts teams.

They were married two years later on September 10, 1949 at St Paul's Church in Hemel Hempstead, and initially moved in with a family because they could not afford their own house.

They stayed there until 1954, when they moved to Luton, where they brought up their two daughters. After 32 years there they moved to Bury St Edmunds for 10 years, before finally moving to their current home in Thurlton.

Throughout his working life Eric was a compositor, whilst Doris worked as a secretary typist in education, before becoming a full time mum.

They have four grandchildren.

Eric said there was “no secret” to a long marriage. “It's some sort of fortitude that was born out of hardship in the first place,” he said.

“I don't believe any couples that say they never have rowed,” added Doris. “But we never go to bed on an argument. Also family is a big issue in our lives.”