A MARRIED couple from Mill Hill celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at the weekend.

Fred and Patricia Harris were joined by family and friends at Holiday Inn Hotel in Brent Cross to commemorate their 60 years of married life.

The couple first met 61-years-ago after “a very helpful” and “sweet-sounding operator” attempted to help Mr Harris with a fault on his phone line.

Just as he was giving up hope of it being fixed, he asked Patricia what she was doing that evening.

After chatting about her plans to return to her parents’ home in Brook Avenue, Edgware, Mr Harris arranged a “chance meeting” at the bus stop outside West Hendon Ex-Servicemen’s Club where he knew she would be passing by.

Describing the double decker bus pulling up at the stop Mr Harris said he saw Patricia, an “attractive blonde”, and said she immediately won his heart.

Six months later the pair was married on St Patrick’s Day at Islington Registry Office.

Mr Harris, 88, retired from Hendon Times in 1988 after 40 years service as a sports editor.

He is a Second World War veteran and was commended for his “outstanding service” in North West Europe and is chairman of the 95th Finchley Branch of the Normandy Veterans’ Association.

Mrs Harris, who is also 88-years-old, served with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.

The couple, who have five children, eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren, received many cards including one from the Queen who sent her “congratulations and best wishes.”