Colney Heath couple who first met as children celebrate diamond wedding anniversary

A couple who first met taking piano lessons in Colney Heath celebrated their 60th year of marriage last week.

Roy, 83, and Pauline Franklin, 81, learned their scales together aged just nine and seven before going their separate ways.

Roy explained: “I came home from doing my national service in the Middle East and saw her [Pauline] at a dance.

“I realised that she was not a little girl any more and I said, ‘can I walk you home tonight?’ – we’ve been together ever since.”

But the couple, who now have two daughters, three grandchildren and a great-grandson, said it was not always plain-sailing.

Roy explained: “Her mother was quite strong with me. She used to chuck me out every night.”

To celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary, the Franklins are going on a seven-day cruise, stopping off in France, Spain and Guernsey.

Asked the secret of a long-lasting marriage, Pauline said: “It’s important to always talk things over and work things out together.”

Roy said: “There are three things in life that mean the most to me: the first one is the wife; you’ve got to get on with her. The second thing is the family and third thing is the football.”

Having supported Luton Town for more than 60 years, Roy knows a thing or two about loyalty. The couple had this advice for young people of today: “You’ve got to love each other. Make time for each other. You’ve got to talk, to communicate.”