A HARNHAM couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary say “living life to the full and enjoying things together” is key to a long marriage.

Pat and Bryan Errington-Rycroft celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on Monday, August 13.

The pair’s paths crossed when they were introduced during a packed meeting in the Guildhall where Ludwig Koch,who was renowned for recording bird and animal calls, was speaking.

It was a particularly memorable first meeting as Pat recalls fondly: “[At the end of the meeting] we started to talk and an awful noise came on in the background, laughing and shrieking, and then a voice said that is the mating call of the hyena.”

Pat, now 91, and Bryan, 85, were married at Salisbury Methodist Church in 1958.

“We had a lovely day,” said Pat. “It went off very well but it nearly didn’t.”

The night before the wedding Bryan stayed with his parents in Boscombe and they were going to get the bus into Salisbury for the ceremony the next day.

“His parents got on the bus and then conductor said no more to get on the bus is full,” said Pat.

But after pleas and calls from passengers to “let him on” the bus conductor had a change of heart and let Bryan on.

Bryan worked in the weights and measures department at Wiltshire County Council for three years before deciding on a career change, becoming a human biology teacher. He taught in Warminster and later became a college lecturer at Salisbury College.

Pat, also a teacher, taught English and history at St Edmund's School. She also taught English and business communications at Salisbury College.

The couple served as Conservative councillors on Salisbury District Council.

Pat served as a district councillor for Harnham for eight years. And during her time on the district council served as chairman from 1992-1993 and was mayor of Salisbury from 1994-1995, posts which she “thoroughly enjoyed”.

Bryan, represented the Ebble Valley ward, and served on the district council for 12 years.

He was also a church warden at St George’s Church in Harnham for 15 years.

On celebrating their anniversary milestone the couple said: “It’s absolutely lovely.

“It is extraordinary and fortunate we met each other and have stayed together for 60 years.”

The couple say the secret of a lasting marriage is to “live life to the full and enjoy doing things together”.

They enjoy going to the theatre as well as attending church in Nunton and Odstock and are members of the University of the Third Age (U3A).

Pat and Bryan have two children, Christina and Philip, and two grandchildren, Stephen and Mary.

They celebrated their special milestone with their family.