A Norwich couple who are celebrating 65 years of marriage claim the secret is to be there for each other.

Stanley and Vera Girling, from Theobald Road, Lakenham, married on August 31 at St Catherine's Church in Aylsham Road, back in 1946.

They met one evening at the speedway races which used to be held off Aylsham Road in Norwich.

Vera, 88, said: 'We just got talking and things went from there. The secret to a happy marriage is to love each other and be there for each other.

'We have our arguments the same as everybody else. It's 65 years but it doesn't seem like a long time.'

The couple agreed to get married when Stanley, now 90, returned from Burma, in south-east Asia, where he was serving in the RAF.

'He used to write to me, we didn't have phones back then.

'I have kept all the letters and I still read them,' Vera said.

Stanley's service in the RAF also saw him travel to Singapore while Vera worked at the telegram exchange.

The couple have four children: Trevor, Clive and twins Hadrian and Beverley, who were born on Christmas Day in 1956, as well as 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The couple lived in Mile Cross when they were first married and they moved to their current house in Lakenham when their son Clive, now 61, was eight months old.

They spent their first few years of married life at speedway events, cycling and visiting Sea Palling.

For their 60th wedding anniversary, Stanley surprised his wife by arranging a celebration with all their family and friends.

Vera added: 'For our diamond wedding we were supposed to be going out for a meal and when we turned up there was about 100 people there, I couldn't believe it. There was people I hadn't seen for years.'

Are you celebrating a special anniversary? Call Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk