Diamond couple

They will throwing a party for family and close friends, including son Ian with his wife Hilary and children Jane, Elizabeth and Nathan, as well as daughter Linda, with husband Michael, and Stephen and Deborah.

Phyllis, 77, and Dennis, 82, live on West Parade where they enjoy stunning sea views and can spend a summer's evening "watching the world go by".

Dennis was a train driver for 45 years while his wife ran the Nelson Guest House in Station Road for 34 years, and they also had Russell's Bathing Station for 23 years where they rented out 50 beach-huts and had a kiosk.

They still enjoy seaside life these days and go down after lunch every day when the weather is good to catch up with friends in neighbouring huts.

Phyllis said: "We have got very good mates down there - it is a good social life for us. It is nice to go every day down there, and meet everybody - we don't go away in summer because we have the beach hut."

Dennis was born in Belvedere in Kent and spent his childhood there before the family moved to St Leonards when he was 10.

After school he went through "lots of jobs", including bottling beer and delivering bread before he was evacuated to Yeovil where he worked in a skin factory. On his return he began at the railway, and drove trains up to Charing Cross and Canon Street, and from Hastings to Ashford.

He said: "It was quite good, but steam was really the good the old days, you always had company and someone to talk to on the footplate, but when diesel and electric came in you were on your own...mind you, it was nice to get out of the elements into a nice warm cab."

Phyllis was born and raised in Bexhill and worked for a chemist when she left school.

They first met at the De La Warr Pavilion then bumped into each other at a dance at the Deluxe ballroom in Hastings and started seeing each other.

They married a year and a half later at St Peter's Church in the Old Town, where their children were to be christened and many years later also got married.

Their first home was in Cornwall Road and they also started their new business.

Phyllis said: "We bought a guest house - it was disgusting, but we made it into a nice one. I must have liked it, and the beach was a nice happy business, they were both good. They put us where we are and gave the kids a good start in life."

Ten years ago they were one of 8,000 golden wedding couples who went to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen's own 50th anniversary.