TWO couples who have been friends for years are celebrating double Diamond Wedding anniversaries today (Thursday).

George and Judith Brades from Tilshead will be jointly marking their special anniversary with Jimmy and Zana Hunt from Shrewton when they all get together with family and friends at Shrewton Sport’s and Social Club on Saturday.

For the Brades, their are further celebrations as well with George turning 80 today and Judith's birthday tomorrow (Friday).

George, from Slough, was based at Devizes camp during his national service and met

his future wife shopping in Woolworths. They married a short time after at Devizes registry office and moved to Tilshead in 1969.

In the1980s, they opened the campsite Brades Acre in Tilshead.

Early on, they travelled around Scotland and loved to play darts, both having been members of the local darts team.

With three children, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, they say the secret to their marriage has been "never baring malice and always talking things through".

On their Golden Wedding anniversary, the couple renewed their wedding vows at St Thomas a Becket church in Tilshead.

Born in Shrewton, Jimmy Hunt first met Zana at a youth club in 1950, getting engaged on Zana’s 18th birthday.

Their wedding was held at Christ the King in Amesbury with their honeymoon on the Isle of Wight.

After working on a farm, Jimmy became a civil servant, enjoying playing

football for Shrewton while Zana’s hobbies involved needle work and knitting.

They have three children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and told the Journal: "We have been very lucky in our married life to have had each other."

Over the years, they have enjoyed coach holidays in the UK and overseas and enjoy spending time with their great-grandchildren.

Although having known each other for around 20 years, both couples only found out recently that their weddings were on the same day.