Laughter is the key to a long and successful marriage according to a Horsham couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this week.
Brenda and Tony Jones, aged 81 and 84 respectively, who live in Potters Place, have been avid bellringers, travelling across the world to ring church bells in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The two met over a cup of tea in Bakewell, Derbyshire, having both just given blood.
“When we were having a cup of tea we spoke together and the rest is history,” Brenda said.
“If we hadn’t have met there we would have met somewhere else as Bakewell is a small place.”
The couple have three children, Philippa, Matthew, and Gareth, who runs Beer Essentials in East Street, and five grandchildren.
They moved to Watford and then Norwich before coming to Horsham in 1974 with their three children.
Tony said: “Horsham was just recovering from the massive construction of the dual carriageway Albion Way.
“It was like the remains of a battlefield.”
Brenda added: “Horsham has always been what it says on the tin, a market town.”
As a qualified chartered town planner Tony joined Horsham District Council as district planning officer, and then became director of planning.
Brenda worked as a receptionist in Brighton Road, while the children went to Forest School, Horsham High School for Girls, and Collyers.
They originally lived in North Heath Farmhouse, before spending 35 years in Grebe Crescent.
They both said how proud they were of their grandchildren and how much of a constant delight they were.
Tony added: “We have a good time, apart from a few moments, relieved usually by laughter and jokes.”
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