Charlton Kings couple celebrate Diamond Wedding

THEY were the classic pairing of beauty and brains.

She was a former Dior model who graced the pages of Vogue and he was a Nato scientist who went on to work for GCHQ.

And Pamela and Brian Willoughby have proved that love can last a lifetime.

The pair, who live in Verney Close, Cheltenham, are celebrating 60 years of marriage tomorrow when they will be joined by family and friends for a special garden party and a toast to their years together.

The couple say hard work has kept them together over the years.

The pair first caught one another's eye at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, when Brian, 83, enquired if Pamela, who worked there at the time, was as bored as he was.

They later fixed a date to meet and the rest, as they say, is history.

The pair were married on July 5, 1949 in Sacred Hearts Church in Pamela's hometown of Teddington.

To their delight they received a certificate of blessing on the day from the Pope.

Pamela, 82, who has a Catholic, Italian background had a cousin who worked as part of the Swiss guard in the Vatican.

Brian said: "I think the vicar was as shocked as anyone when he saw it. He shook himself rigid. It meant a lot to both of us."

Pamela gave up modelling when they moved to the Hague for Brian's new job with Nato's Air Defence.

Brian said: "I thought she was beautiful and I still do. She was very popular so I had to fight others off to keep her and work a bit of charm.

"Pamela's an intelligent woman and we've always got on. When I proposed I did it the traditional way and asked her father for her hand in marriage."

The pair moved to Cheltenham in 1961 when Brian took up a post at GCHQ. They have two children, Matthew and Victoria.

Pamela said: "Everyone has their ups and down's but we love the same things and we have similar backgrounds. We've shared so many wonderful experiences that we'll never forget.

"We love travelling and food and we talk to one another."