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Joyce and George Ducklin were married on Valentine's Day 1953
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Diamond celebration on Valentine's Day

By Natasha Adkins
February 14, 2013

Valentine's Day will be particularly special for one Woodley couple who have 60 reasons to celebrate today.

Joyce and George Ducklin, from Tippings Lane, were married on the most romantic day of the year in 1953 – the year Queen Elizabeth was crowned – at St Clement Church in Kensington and are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

However, it was never the couple’s intention to marry on Valentine’s Day.

“Because of Lent we either had to get married before or wait six weeks until after and the 14th was the only day left,” said Mrs Ducklin, 80.

The couple’s relationship began through letters after Mrs Ducklin’s aunt introduced them as penpals.

Mrs Ducklin said: “He was in Germany doing his National Service and he had no-one to write to so I wrote to him.

“I suppose at the time it was just someone to go out with.”

Their relationship was to quickly blossom.

The pair, who only lived two tube stops away from each other, continued “going with each other” for two years before Mr Ducklin proposed on his future wife’s front door step in Notting Hill.

Sixty years of marriage has not taken its toll on the couple’s sense of humour as they joked about how they make marriage work.

Mr Ducklin, 81, said: “Keep my mouth shut and do as I’m told.”

His wife said: “It’s about helping one another and making decisions together.

“Like all couples we have our rows but it is never anything major.”

Mr Ducklin said: “It’s hard to believe it has been that long.”

The couple moved to Woodley 28 years ago to be closer to Mrs Ducklin’s sister.

Mr Ducklin continued to commute to London for his work as a sign writer.

He said: “I used to get the 6.10am bus, I quite liked it, I could relax.

“It’s funny I still see people in the street who used to get the same bus with me every day.”

Before she retired Mrs Ducklin worked with disabled children.

The couple, who have no children, have chosen to celebrate the special day with a small get-together of about 30 of their closest friends and family at Cantley Lodge in Wokingham, next Saturday.

Mr Ducklin said: “Some new friends are coming and some old friends, so it will be really nice to have everyone together in one room.”

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