A PRETTY girl was sitting with her boyfriend in Mike Harding’s local when Cupid launched an arrow at his heart with unerring accuracy.

It was “love at first sight” and more than 60 years later 50s lovebirds Mike and Diana celebrated their diamond wedding with their family.

The hotel they chose for a celebratory dinner on Thursday, August 10, decorated their table with red roses, as Diana had carried the blooms in her bridal bouquet at their wedding ceremony at All Saints Church in Alton, all those years ago.

Then, their friends, Bill and Monica Spiers had hosted a reception for them before they set off for a Devon honeymoon.

Surrounded by cards and presents and, in pride of place, a telegram from the Queen, the Alton couple recalled their years together.

Mike, 84, was born in Beech Village Hall as his parents were waiting for the building work on their bungalow to be finished. “Mum was eight months pregnant with me and so they had to live in a little lean-to at the back of the hall and that was where I was born.” His father, William, later became head gardener to the aptly-named Colonel Courage in Alton.

After attending Alton’s All Saint’s School and St Lawrence School, Mike got a job as a grocery assistant at CJ Amor in the High Street before national service, which took him to Egypt where he twice narrowly avoided death.

First when his sergeant refused to let him accompany him back to the nearby town late one night and he was found next morning “stabbed and mutilated”. “Then when we were taking off for England we had to do an emergency landing as one of the plane’s engines was on fire.

“We got on the next plane and had to do another emergency landing as one of the engines failed. So I was glad when we did eventually get home.

The war had brought Diana, 81, to Ropley to live with her grandparents and she attended Arlesford Secondary School, now Perrins, after which she worked in a Four Marks grocery stor before becoming a press operator in the Reliance Laundry in Alton “Where I had a very happy time and made lovely friends.”

Mike, who in his youth belonged to Alton Cycling Club and took part in their races, started at the bottom and worked his way up to become manager and director of Rainbow Carpet Shop in Market Street, Alton.

Mike retired after gaining the Dupont Stainmaster’s degree from Cambridge University, making him a master of retailing and allowing him to have MAR after his name. But his retirement didn’t last long as he was if he would help out at Mike Frost’s Carpets in Alton High Street and he stayed 12 years.

Mike and Diana helped actor Reginal Marsh to run the charity Home Farm Trust, which helps adults with learning difficulties.

Retirement has allowed the couple to travel extensively in Europe and nearer home and spend some of “our happiest times” with their four grandchildren and three great grandsons. Both paid tribute to their daughter, Lorraine, and son Mark for the “care they give” them and also, to their daughter-in-law, Amanda, “who does so much for us”.

And Diana’s recipe for a successful marriage? “Whatever disagreements you have sit down and discuss them and you will sort it out. Don’t just give up.”