A COUPLE that have been pillars of a village community are about to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.

William, 85, and Alma Pasfield, 86, met when both were members of an amateur dramatics club in Gosfield around 1953.

Both had a love of all things theatrical and were rehearsing for a performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

Alma said: “We loved acting and that was how we met. We used to do lots of dancing together.”

They were married on August 18 in 1956 by the Reverend Edward Burdon at St Catherine’s Church in Gosfield.

Alma said: “I remember first thing in the morning it poured with rain and I said to my maid of honour if it was raining at 2.30pm I was not going to the church. I am not going to go down there to get wet. Luckily by 2.30pm it had stopped."

William said: “For our honeymoon we went to Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, not the Caribbean or anywhere like that.

“Looking out from Ventnor there is a mast out there with a light on to direct traffic to avoid the mast. I remember we were in bed and we could see the light from our window.”

Alma said: “When we came back on the ferry a storm came up across the Solent and it bucketed down with rain.”

Both also share a love of plants, with Alma studying horticulture at college and William being a member of the Gosfield Horticulture Society for 57 years.

Alma went on to teach at John Bunyan and Bocking End schools in Braintree for ten years on and off, before leaving to spend more time with her young family.

William was in charge of salary payments at Crittall Manufacturing for 48 years, was a member of Gosfield Parish Council for 43 years and he has been a member of Gosfield Senior Circle for 15 years.

The couple have two children and three grandchildren.

Alma said: “You have got to learn to love each other and listen to each other’s points of view. Have your arguments and then make up afterwards.

William said laughing: “We are lucky because our family has been very good to us. We are really really proud of our loved ones.”