A FORMER head verger of St Albans Abbey and his wife have just celebrated their diamond wedding. Frank Lame, aged 78 and his wife Lynda 79, of Dickens Close, St Albans, reached 60 years of marriage last Thursday, and celebrated the occasion with their fam

A FORMER head verger of St Albans Abbey and his wife have just celebrated their diamond wedding.

Frank Lame, aged 78 and his wife Lynda 79, of Dickens Close, St Albans, reached 60 years of marriage last Thursday, and celebrated the occasion with their family at St Stephens Church on Saturday.

The couple first began seeing each other in 1946, after meeting at a church party in Kentish Town, north London, where a cousin introduced them.

They were married two years later at St Johns Church in Kentish Town and moved to Digswell, when Frank worked with Unilever.

Lynda aslso worked in various offices until she had their first child, Martin, now aged 55. Four years later their daughter Ruth was born. The couple now have eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The couple moved to St Albans in 1967 when Frank got his post as head verger at the Abbey, and the couple moved into church accommodation in Orchard Street

Frank remained head verger for 27 years and when he retired, they moved to their current address.

The verger is a layperson who leads clergymen during processions and religious ceremonies, and is also responsible for organising duties for the church.

He also carries a mace which used to be used to move people blocking the procession out of the way.

Frank was brought up in Gospel Oak in London, and Lynda was the eldest of four girls who grew up nearby in Kentish town.

During World War Two, Frank was evacuated to his grandmother's home in Flaunden near Hemel Hempstead, while Lynda was moved to St Albans.

They both share a passion for music and the church and Lynda enjoys solo singing.

Frank said the secret to a long marriage was understanding that there would be ups and downs and that things could not be perfect all the time.