Celebrating 60 years of marriage

The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage yesterday, having brought up a family of four children together.

Cyril, 80, and Muriel, 83, lived in a house in Chichester city centre for 53 years before moving to a bungalow in Mansfield Road, North Bersted, six years ago.

They met in Sidlesham, when Cyril was 16 and Muriel 18, and were married at the parish church, St Mary Our Lady, on October 26, 1957.

Muriel said: “There was a gang that used to go out cycling on a Sunday, then we just broke off and went out on our own.

“We used to go off for bike rides. We were courting for five years before we were married.”

Muriel’s family had come to the village with Sidlesham Land Settlement Association and lived on the Fletchers Estate, while Cyril was born in London and lived in Guildford before moving to Sidlesham.

Their first home together was a rented bungalow in Selsey. They then bought a house in Whyke Lane, Chichester, where they brought up Alan, Jacqueline, Wendy and David, and lived there for 53 years.

Cyril was an electrician and did his apprenticeship in Chichester. He still enjoys working on the tools and has a workshop down the garden.

He said: “I have always been active. Muriel calls me a workaholic. It is no good sitting down while you die, you have got to be doing something while you wait.”

Muriel added: “He can’t stop. His legs automatically steer him to the garage.