THEY were childhood sweethearts.

But now this diamond duo is celebrating their 60th anniversary.

Jim and Marion Brown met aged 13 when classmates from Taunton’s Grammar School where Jim attended and The Gregg School, where Marion studied gathered at the paddling pool on Southampton Common.

A romance soon blossomed and they were engaged seven years later at the age of 20 and finally married in July 1953 at the Primitive Methodist Chapel.

Jim had just finished his national service and joined the police where he worked until 1970 moving up the ranks to become a detective and later a sergeant.

He then became the chief security officer on the newly-formed Southampton Container Services Terminal, where he worked for a further 20 years until retiring in 1990 at the age of 58 to become a local historian and author.

Marion’s first job was as a shorthand typist at Southampton University.

She later worked for Wessex Hardware Factors and Lowman’s Bakery until their two daughters were born in 1955 and 1957.

When their children were older, she went back to Lowman’s and then took a job at Southern Electric where she worked until her retirement in 1990.

Now in their retirement the 81-year-old grandparents of seven enjoy spending time with family, and have already been on more than 40 cruises.

Jim has had a number of local history books published and works closely with Hampshire Constabulary History Society and Bitterne Local History Society.

When asked the secret of a long and happy marriage, Jim said: “Each of us put the other one first. If you put each other first you can’t go too far wrong.”

The couple celebrated their anniversary with a family gathering to watch The Lion King musical in London.