At least it was for Derek Lowe who got himself noticed by Eve Bethell in Leamington 62 years ago and is still the love of her life today.

The happy couple, of Drinkwater Close in Harbury, toasted to their diamond wedding anniversary on March 6 after receiving a special message from the Queen.

Mrs Lowe, 82, said: "Derek thinks the first time we met was when he saw me with my grandma in the Regal Cinema, but I was sure we met another time when I was taking my dogs down to the Clarendon Hotel for a walk.

"I was buying cigarettes for my grandma and he fell over my dogs. I told him he did it on purpose and that got us talking."

Mrs Lowe, originally from Hereford, came to Leamington as a nanny after the war and Mr Lowe was a market gardener in Harbury when they first set eyes on each other in 1946.

Recalling the moment, Mr Lowe, 86, said: "I remember thinking that I had to see this lady again. She was a bit of all right."

After two years together they decided to get married. Mr Lowe added: "I didn't ask her to marry me - we just did. We took it for granted that we were going to get married."

A small gathering of 20 people came to their wedding at Holy Trinity church in Leamington and Mrs Lowe wore a blue wedding suit. She said: "We didn't really do white weddings after the war. It was a nice March day - we had lovely sunshine."

The couple lived with Mr Lowe's parents in Harbury for some time, but after having two children they moved to one of the village's new estates, went on to have two more sons and have remained in the area ever since. Their four children - Pat, 58, Gary, 56, Richard, 45, and Ian, 43 - all live nearby and the pair enjoy spending time with them and grandchildren Max, Dayle, Jessica, Matthew, Amber, Alex and Katie-Ann and great-grandchildren Paige and Sophia.

Mrs Lowe - an active member of several village groups - has devoted most of her life to looking after her husband, who suffers from bronchitis and has recently spent six weeks in hospital after a fall.

She said: "He is always telling me he loves me. I have to look after him - he needs me around all the time. I am a housewife and a nurse and everything that goes with it."

Mr Lowe said: "I wouldn't swap her for the world - we just seem to fit together. I have always hated it when she goes away."

The pair had a small party to toast to their 60-year achievement with family and friends on Saturday and are planning to have another double celebration next month - just before Mr Lowe turns 87.

Mrs Lowe is planning to have the Queen's congratulatory card framed in silver. She said: "This card is my joy - I'm very much a loyalist. The post-lady rang the bell to give it to me by hand. It's very nice to have it."

When asked to reveal the secret of a good marriage, she said: "Respect, patience, tolerance and looking after each other's needs."

Mr Lowe added: "We just get on. We love each other - that's all there is to it."