Respect, trust, and a love of family life are what have helped a besotted couple reach 65 years of marriage.

Peter and Madge Flewin celebrate their blue sapphire milestone today, not far from where they first met.

The pair live together in Churchill Road, Horton Kirby, which is just around the corner from their respective childhood homes.

Mrs Flewin, 85, recalled: “I was in 64 School Lane and Peter was in 62, so we haven’t moved far.

“I wasn’t that friendly with him but he grew on me. I was 15 and he was 17 when we started going out.

“He used to come down the road and whistle for me and take me down to the youth club.”

Love most certainly blossomed and once Mr Flewin, 87, returned from serving in the Welsh Guard, the pair decided to settle down and were married at St Mary’s Church in their home village.

They bought a small terraced house, had their first child, Glynis, and eventually saved up some money for a first holiday to the Isle of Wight.

Glynis later had siblings in Vanessa, and Andrew, who works in Dartford and helps his parents out with the shopping.

Between them the three have given their parents seven grandchildren, who have in turn given them four great-grandchildren, the youngest of whom is Molly at just a few months old.

Mrs Flewin said: “We have respect for each other, we’re understanding and loving of each other, and we love our family.

“That is what has kept us together.”

She and her husband had no plans for the big day but there was always the possibility of their children springing a surprise.

However they chose to spend it, there can be no doubt that their love is still burning just as brightly as it was back in 1952.