A COUPLE from Winterbourne are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary today with socially distanced doorstep visits and Facetimes from family.

Lovebirds Trevor and Ivy Cottle first met outside a youth club in Winterbourne

Trevor, who grew up in Mangotsfield, married Ivy, from Winterbourne, on March 4, 1961 at the local church followed by a reception at the George and Dragon.

The couple went on to have three children and now have seven grandchildren as well as nine great-grandchildren.

Trevor has been shielding throughout the pandemic and so the family will not be able to celebrate as they would have liked, but they’re still planning a special day.

Their daughter, Tracey Skuse, said: “ We will make it a special day with lots of Facetime and garden visits from us all.”

Once married, the couple first lived with Ivy’s parents before moving to their first home in Downend.

They eventually moved back to Winterbourne in 1983 and have remained there since.

The couple regularly enjoyed evenings out at Winterbourne District Community Association before the pandemic.

“Dad loves country walks, nature, gardening, and his passion is his allotment, and in the past he kept and bred canaries,” added Tracey.

“Mum loves walking, swimming and gardening, and she has done lots of knitting for her grandchildren. They love to spend time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and have missed them terribly in the past year.

“We will make sure they have a day to remember for their 60th wedding anniversary.”