Mary and Norman Walker, of Bury St Edmunds, celebrate diamond wedding after meeting at Bury Free Press

A couple from Bury St Edmunds are set to celebrate their diamond wedding after meeting while working at a newspaper.

Norman and Mary Walker, both 80, became a couple after spending time together at the annual dinner dance for Bury Free Press employees - held at the Athenaeum.

The couple had both started working at the newspaper after finishing school.

Though admitting she had noticed Norman, who worked in circulation, Mary never expected him to ask her out.

Mary, who said she doesn’t feel 80, said: “We’ve had a good marriage with ups and downs like everyone.

“Since we have retired we have been enjoying making the best of life.

“We hope to be together for as long as we possibly can.”

When asked for her top tip for making it to 60 years of marriage, she said it is important to remember, ‘it is no good arguing’.

The couple wed three years after getting together, both aged 20.

Mary, who started out working in the reading room of the paper, doesn’t remember a grand proposal, instead they made the decision to get married together.

Their wedding took place at St Edmundsbury Cathedral and they went on to have a son, Adrian, now 57.

For most of their marriage they lived in Fornham Road, before moving to The Firs.

Following 18 months at the Bury Free Press, Norman spent the rest of his working life as a builder.

Mary went on to work at West Suffolk Hospital and on Bury market.

The couple will be celebrating their anniversary on Thursday.

They will mark the special occasion with family and friends, at the Bunbury Arms in Great Barton, before going on holiday.

Mary said: “It is quite possible we wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for the Bury Free Press.”