On the day the Queen ­celebrated her 30th birthday, 20-year-old Valerie Palmer and 22-year-old John Bray were tying the knot at St Paul’s Church, Newton Abbot.

Sixty years later, on April 21, 2016, while the country marked Her Majesty’s 90th, Mr and Mrs Bray were celebrating their diamond wedding.

John, who was born in his grandparents’ house in Buckfast, grew up in Ashburton and, on leaving school aged 15, started a five-year apprenticeship as a painter and decorator, working for Eddie Horrell.

Val, as she has always been known, was born in Kingsteignton, her family moving to Newton Abbot when she was 11 years old.

On leaving school she joined Austins, then moving to Rockheys where she worked in the handbags and gloves department before ‘moving upstairs’ to the accounts office.

In the early 1950s, John was called up for National Service, being posted to Scotland and being based close to Troon Golf Club.

There is some disagreement between the couple as to how they first met, but meet in 1952 they certainly did and, after a three-and-a-half-year courtship, married in 1956.

The couple set up home in Ashburton, living in a flat in East Street, where they had their first son Richard.

In 1958, Val and John moved to Westabrook, where they still live today.

They went on to have three more children – Sally, Sue and David. They also have seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

After completing his National Service, John continued to work for Mr Horrell until, in 1968, he teamed up with Ray Trickey to form their own decorating business, Bray and Trickey.

The pair remained firm friends until Mr Trickey’s death in 2007.

John was also a retained firefighter. Based at Ashburton, he proudly clocked up more than 27 years’ service.

Val, meanwhile, as well as ­raising four children, worked at Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Hosptial for 18 years. She was also a dinner lady and playground assistant at Ashburton Secondary Modern School (South Dartmoor).

She has been a member of ­Ashburton Pensioners’ Association for more than 25 years, being its chairman until ill-health ­resulted in her having to step down from the role last year.

The couple enjoy watching sport, especially football, rugby, cricket and horse racing, and woe betide anybody who visits or rings them up when England are playing!

Val and John marked their 60th anniversary with two celebrations, both at their home in Westabrook.

On the day itself they shared a buffet and memories with John’s two brothers, Ray and David, and his wife Maureen, and Val’s sister Ann, with her husband Tony.

Ray was best man and Ann was bridesmaid at their wedding.

On Sunday, it was time for the siblings and their other halfs to celebrate with mum and dad – Richard and Angie, Sally and Kevin, Sue and Roger, and David and Clive evoking laughter and tears reminiscing about their time growing up.

And, despite being busy with her own celebrations, the Queen still found time to send Val and John a card congratulating them on their special anniversary.