Dancing diamond couple: Secret is getting along

Joan and John Millward, from Kingswinford, met on a family holiday in 1952 before going on to marry.

Later in life, they moved to southern Spain and taught holidaymakers to dance.

Mr Millward, aged 82, who was an engineer before he took up dancing, said: "My mother and Joan's mother both sat next to each other at school in Aberystwyth.

"Later on we went on a family holiday and me and Joan met on the promenade and it went from there.

"The more I think about it, the more I am convinced she was just after my money."

"I haven't found it yet," Mrs Millward, aged 81, said.

The pair courted for several years before Mr Millward went into the RAF as a regular, based in Lichfield.

Three years later, the couple married at a ceremony at St Mary's church in Kingswinford on March 5 in 1955.

They had one son, Gary, born in 1961, who died aged 31 whilst on holiday in America.

After working several jobs, the pair moved to Spain and taught dancing, as well as providing entertainment at popular holiday destinations, only returning around five years ago to spend time at home.

However, the pair said they still enjoy travelling, having spent their diamond anniversary in Turkey, and their golden wedding anniversary in South Africa.

"It is hard to travel as you get older, as it is harder to get insured," Mr Millward said. "There is so much of the UK that we have not seen yet, so we are looking forward to that."

The pair celebrated the event with a meal with their family and friends on Saturday, which was attended by their 25-year-old theatre nurse granddaughter Jodie.

According to the couple, there is no secret to a long marriage, just to get on well.

"We have spent our lives together, and we have never argued about money. When we moved in together, we put all our money in a drawer and the rule was if you took any, you left a note," Mr Millward said. "We've led a very varied life and I wouldn't change it."