CHILDHOOD sweethearts Doug and Gwen Hands have celebrated 60 years of happy marriage with friends and family in Droitwich Spa.

The couple met when they were tiny tots and their early years were entwined by the close relationship shared by their families.

Gwen was just 14 when she began courting 16-year-old Doug and they married on December 19, 1942, at St Anne's Church, Cotteridge.

Gwen was working in Woolworths, in Northfield, before her big day and colleagues and customers donated ration coupons so she could buy material for a white wedding.

Wedding cake

The couple had a three-tier chocolate wedding cake and returned to their jobs in an ammunition factory the next day.

They bought a house in Chadwich Avenue, Rubery, where they lived for 32 years and had two children.

Gwen and Doug both worked for British Leyland, now MG Rover, at Longbridge and moved to Berrill Close, in Droitwich, 28 years ago.

After leaving Leyland, Gwen didn't want to retire and eventually worked in a variety of Spa jobs until the age of 72. She is now 79.

The couple love living in a close knit community and Gwen told the Advertiser: "We have lots of friends and family to socialise and Droitwich is a very friendly place to live in."

The couple go dancing three times a week and enjoy entertaining friends at home.

Eighty-one-year-old Doug's main hobby is building models out of matchsticks, while his wife loves settling down with her knitting needles.

On Friday, December 20, they held an anniversary party at Droitwich Spa Workingmen's Club, Friar Street.

"We were just meant to be," Gwen told the Advertiser. "Marriage has been good for us and my advice to anyone considering a long term relationship is to always be there for each other - whatever."