AN ABINGDON couple married for 60 years have offered their words of wisdom to the happily wedded Royal couple.

Terry and Sylvia Belcher, from Trendell Place, met at a dance in a church hall behind St Nicholas Church in 1949, and have picked up some lessons in love and life along the way.

Mr Belcher, 82, said Prince William and Kate Middleton should be patient with each another.

He said: “You cannot expect things to go your own way. If one of you is a boss then you’ve had it.”

He added: “We tried to keep out of harm’s way as much as we could.

“But really it is about getting the right one in the first place.”

The couple celebrated their diamond wedding on Thursday.

Mrs Belcher, 81, added: “Just hope for the best. You’ve got to make the most of it once you are married.”

The couple, who were both born in in Abingdon’s Warren Hospital, have three children – Angela, 58, John, 56, and Jennifer, 50.

They also have nine grand- children and six great-grandchild.

Mr Belcher said when they met it was love at first sight. He said: “She asked me to take her on and that was it – I was snared.”

He proposed at the Nag’s Head pub in Bridge Street in the summer of 1950 and they were married at St Helen’s Church on April 28, 1951.

The reception was held at the riverside Salters Cafe, where Sylvia worked as a waitress and they spent their honeymoon in Woodstock, where Mr Belcher had relatives.

He added: “We could not afford anything special those days.”

Mr Belcher painted cars at the MG factory for more than 25 years before working for Southern Gas until his retirement aged 63.

Mrs Belcher, nee Mooring, took on a number of jobs including cleaning at Abingdon School before she retired at 72.

Mrs Belcher said they were proud of the life they had led together.

She added: “It is lovely. It is quite an achievement – there are not many these days.”

About 80 family and friends are to attend a celebration for the pair at Abingdon United Football Club on Friday.