JOHN and Shirley Pearce have enjoyed more than half a century of laughter and cups of hot chocolate in the middle of the night.

Celebrating their diamond anniversary today, the Kidlington couple, say the secret to a long and happy marriage is being able to ‘be silly with each other’ and to tell the other you love them everyday.

Their story began when Mrs Pearce, 79, used to work at the glove factory in Woodstock and Mr Pearce, 86, was working in the building industry having just left the Royal Engineers.

Mrs Pearce said: “I used to know John’s brother Raymond.

“They used to come up to Woodstock and my friend and I used to just lark about with Raymond and his friend.

“One day John came up and he had gone into The Star to have a drink and he came out with his friend and I said to John 'take me for a walk up the park' and off we went.”

Mr Pearce added: “This little voice just asked me to take her out.

“I always thought I was too old for her and there was a girl friend of mine who I could have gone out with but Shirley said to her 'no he’s mine'.”

Instead of wearing a traditional white wedding dress, Mrs Pearce chose a cerise pink number for their special day in 1956.

They married at the registry office in St Giles and Mr Pearce said he could remember it ‘like it was yesterday.’

In the early years of their marriage the couple lived in a caravan down Lyne Road in Kidlington, where Mr Pearce knew the farmer.

After several years and one incident on the roof, which saw Mr Pearce shatter his leg, the couple moved to their Wise Avenue home of 55 years where they raised three children and now have six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

But the couple had a scare 11 years ago when Mrs Pearce had to undergo a triple heart by-pass.

Mr Pearce said: “We nearly lost her.

“I do not know what I would have done.

“We do not like thinking about what would happen if we did not have the other.”

Mrs Pearce said: “We have had our ups and downs like any couple.

“But John has always been so kind and looked after me, well we look after each other.

“And you just have to laugh really.”

Mr Pearce added: “The neighbours must think we’re mad sometimes because of all our laughing.

“It is so important that you tell each other everything and you never brush a problem under the carpet.