The first couple to get married at St Paul’s Church in Letchworth marked their 60th wedding anniversary yesterday.

The Comet: A photograph from the Spriggs' wedding, which was the first to be held at St Paul's Church in Letchworth.A photograph from the Spriggs' wedding, which was the first to be held at St Paul's Church in Letchworth. (Image: Danny Loo Photography 2017)

Roy and Marie Spriggs – who have lived in the same house in Icknield Way for 58 years – married on March 2, 1957, shortly after the church in Pixmore Way was licensed for weddings.

Marie explained: “St Paul’s was our church, but there was a gap between when it was built and when it was licensed.

“The vicar wanted us to get married in Willian, at the old church there, but we said no, Letchworth is much more convenient – and so we got married on that very cold March day.”

The wedding made the local press, with an article about the historic day headed ‘She was the first bride at St Paul’s’.

Marie, 78, was still at Letchworth Grammar School when she met Roy, who was her family’s local postman.

The youngest postie in the area, he was 24 years old on their wedding day.

Roy – who is now 84 – remained with the Post Office all his working life, while Marie held various jobs in the town.

Roy was also involved with the St John Ambulance for many years, and in 1993 was invested as a serving brother.

After his retirement in 1997, he volunteered for 14 years with Meals on Wheels.

Marie was a lifetime blood donor, reaching the 100-pint mark.

“They called me back when I was 70 and I did another five years,” she said.

“By the end I’d given about 125 pints.”

Regarding the 60-year milestone, Marie said: “It’s hard to describe really – I’m amazed.”

Asked what advice she would give to young newly-weds of today, she added: “There has to be a lot of give and take, which I think is missing these days. Be tolerant and never go to bed on an argument.”

Roy and Marie have one daughter, Heather, a son-in-law, Richard, and are grandparents to Rebecca and Josh.