Rev Philip Brownless (88) and his wife Isla (81) describe their 60 years together as a 'complete adventure'.

The couple met when they were studying at Cambridge University.

Mrs Brownless said: "We had one term together at Cambridge in 1947 and by 1948 we were married – it was all rather quick."

"When we got married the UK was still suffering from war-time shortages of housing, food and clothing, but everyone was in the same boat.

"In those days you couldn't just go and buy a wedding dress like you can today, but I was lucky enough to wear a lace dress and Philip wore a second-hand frock coat."

As a clergyman, Mr Brownless' work meant the couple moved home several times. "Various tied cottages have come with Philip's jobs, either as a curate, as vicar of a huge working-class parish, then as headmaster living with 120 boys in a boarding school, and finally a modern vicarage in a three-church country parish," said Mrs Brownless.

"So getting our own bungalow in Birdham after 35 years was a thrill."

The couple, who have two children and two grandchildren, say they will try their hand at anything – for Mrs Brownless' 70th birthday her family took her to learn how to drive an army tank and for her 80th the couple learned to drive a digger.

"The children always say when they leave 'now don't do anything silly'," said Mr Brownless.

The couple's advice to newlyweds is 'to be very committed to one another and devote some regular time to one another to talk things over.'

The couple had a double celebration for their 60th anniversary, with parties held in a marquee in their garden for family, friends and neighbours and far-afield friends.


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