A COUPLE from Yelverton recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at the Bedford Hotel in Tavistock alongside 50 close friends and family members including their three children and seven grandchildren.

Gwen and David Mallet, originally from Plymouth, first met in 1951 at a Boys' Brigade Battalion Church Parade, where David was a drum major and Gwen a member of St Judes Church. The pair later met again at an NCOs social and dance and from then on their love blossomed.

They were married at St Judes Church on August 3, 1953.

David, 80, worked in the construction industry for 66 years, working his way up from an apprentice to a director of a major construction company. A highlight of his colourful career was a trip to Romania to build an orphanage, a project David believes would not have been possible without the support of his wife.

He has also served his country for 60 years, firstly in the Devonshire Regiment with the Corp of Drums and continuing his service with the Territorial Army and Army Volunteer Reserves. To this day, David still soldiers as a parade marshall with the veterans and describes parading in front of Prince Edward and David Cameron last year during Armed Forces Week as 'the proudest day of his life' — with the exception of his wedding day.

Over the last two years David has been a governor of Milton Special Needs School but feels that without Gwen he could not have achieved what he has during his lifetime.

Gwen 78, started a career in tailoring as an apprentice, later joining a tailoring company in Plymouth. This training put her in good stead for her own wedding, making three bridesmaid dresses and a page boy outfit. Gwen then went on to work in a jewellery shop within Debenhams.

After the couple moved to Yelverton, Gwen began work as a care nurse in the local nursing home and worked a number of years for the Red Cross. Gwen got a great sense of satisfaction out of her nursing work and despite a varied career has always been family orientated, devoting her time to David and their family.

Since they were 65, David and Gwen have travelled the world, a highlight being a cruise on the maiden voyage of the Queen Victoria.

They have now decided to spend their holidays a little closer to home, starting with Scotland, part of their wedding anniversary present from their family.