Former Huntingdon and St Neots town footballer Dennis Smith and wife Betty have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Mr Smith, who was born in Huntingdon, met 18-year-old Betty, of Eynesbury, during a social in St Mary’s Parish Hall, opposite Huntingdon bus station in Princes Street.

After two years the couple, who now live in Hardwick Road, Eynesbury, wed in the St Neots Congregational Church on March 27, 1954.

They celebrated their diamond anniversary at home with visitors sharing a cake, and also went with 30 members of family and friends for a meal at the Duncan Arms, Waresley.

Mr Smith, 83, left school to join WH Smith Printing as an apprentice and played for Huntingdon, St Neots and Eynesbury football clubs until he was 42.

Mrs Smith, 80, worked for True Form shoe factory, before joining the Samuel Jones papermill in Little Paxton and then working with Dennis at Hambledon Press.

When Mr Smith turned 60 the couple moved to Devon, but they soon returned as Mr Smith became ill, suffering a heart attack and colon cancer.

Mrs Smith said: “We’ve had our tiffs as everybody does, but he has changed with me and I’ve changed with him. He is just like an old shoe really. Whatever I’d like, as long as we have got the money, I eventually get!”