A WELL-travelled couple from Yate have celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Thomas Sloggett, 80, and Patricia Wheeler, 79, were both born on the other side of Bristol, but met each other working at Godwin Warren Engineering in 1954.

Within four years the pair were married and living with Pat's parents in Totterdown. After a year, Tom signed up to join the RAF an an armourer tasked with fixing and repairing weapons and armour on aircraft.

The following nine years of their married life they spent travelling all around the world.

"We travelled to Kenya, Scotland, Germany and a couple more. It was an absolutely amazing experience and we loved it," Pat said when recalling her and Tom's early years together.

"That might be the secret to our marriage, the fact we have spent a lot of time travelling."

Upon their return from the RAF, the pair in their early thirties decided to look for a house around the Bristol area. Eventually settling at Glenfall, Yate in December 1969.

"It was a really pleasant area and it still is," Helen explained as to why they chose to move out of the city centre.

"I'm not completely sure that it is much better than Bristol in terms of how hectic it is though. But it is nice to see the area develop."

Tom took up another job when leaving the forces as an engineer, which again took him all over the world, sometimes leaving Pat to bring up their three 'wonderful' children Derek, Jenette and Carol.

"They were wonderful children, who gave us an awful lot of joy, as well as some grief at times," said Pat who now has nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Some may know Pat and Tom as the organisers of the Abbotswood Centre disco in the eighties, that ran every Saturday night from St Nicholas' Church.

They are also part of a history group at the centre that looks to educate people on history from the community and the area.

A party at Stanshawes Court was arranged for Pat and Tom's 60th anniversary, with family, friends and a special visitor arriving to celebrate their marriage.

"It was very nice, they treated us very well," Helen continued.

"We felt very spoilt and pleased at the whole event, the Mayor of Yate even popped in to give us some flowers and congratulations which was a really nice moment for us. Unfortunately he couldn't stay for a drink as he was driving!"

Congratulations to Tom and Pat for 60 years of marriage from everyone at the Gazette.