A HORRABRIDGE couple will be greeting friends and family from far and wide tomorrow (Friday) as they celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.

David and Ethel Duffield, both 81, met at St John the Baptist Church in Horrabridge when they were teenagers.

David went to school in Dolvin Road in Tavistock, and Ethel, who lived in Sampford Spiney, went to school at Lady Modiford's in Walkhampton. David was a member of the choir at the church in Horrabridge and Ethel worked for the vicarage. They both attended the Sunday School and their relationship developed from there.

The couple married in 1953 and have lived in Horrabridge for most of their lives. David worked as a carpenter for Plymouth firm Pearn Brothers before spending three years in national service with the Royal Engineers, stationed in Nienburg. He then returned to work for the Pearn Brothers before working for the South West Electricity Board until he retired at 62.

After working in the vicarage, Ethel worked as a waitress at Moorgate then went on to work at Devon County Council schools until retiring at 58. During her retirement she worked as a caretaker for the schools.

The couple have no children but have a four-year old Shetland Sheepdog named Tarn.

The couple enjoy old time and modern sequence dancing, gardening, 1950s music and follow the Royal Engineers' Association and the Shetland Sheepdog Association.

In celebration of their anniversary, Ethel and David will be greeting around 42 members of friends and family from across the UK and enjoying lunch at the Devon Tors Hotel.