DEE and Ricky Merrett – both pillars of Fernhurst’s community for 30 years – celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary in style.

A grand total of 60 family members joined them for for a double celebration party at Elsted Village hall near Midhurst, held not only to mark 70 years of married life, but also Mrs Merrett’s 90th birthday.

The couple met as teenagers in north London during the Second World War, when Ricky was in the Air Training Corps and Dee was in the Women’s Junior Air Corps.

Meetings of both groups were held in the same building, and members also met up at social events, which is where he first set eyes and decided that she was the girl he was going to marry. Ricky went on to work as a BBC sound engineer and Dee as a clerk in the Foreign Office, and they were married in St Albans Church, Harrow, on September 7, 1946.

They had two children, a son Anthony born in 1947 and a daughter Christine born in 1950, and the family lived in Barnet while the children grew up.

Dee and Ricky moved to Fernhurst in 1983 to be near their children’s young families and because they always hoped to retire to a smaller community.

During the 30 years they lived there, they became mainstays of village life and made many friends. As secretary-treasurer of the recreation ground management committee, Ricky organised fundraising events to improve the children’s play area and enlarge the pavilion, and also served on the village hall committee.

Dee joined the Fernhurst branch of Women’s Institute, where she served as both secretary and treasurer. She also helped at the village Luncheon Club and, together with Ricky, was involved with the Fernhurst Centre.

The couple were awarded the Fernhurst Cup for services to the community.

Ricky and Dee enjoyed travelling, walking and especially gardening.

They moved home three times within Fernhurst, and they extensively cleared and developed their new gardens at each address. The couple moved to a flat in Chichester in 2012, when Ricky’s eyesight deteriorated and he had to give up driving.

Daughter Christine said: “Mum and dad have six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, plus an extended family of a further seven, many of whom live locally.

“They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary and mum’s 90th birthday with 60 members of their family.

“The food was a typical Sunday high tea and the hall was decorated with yards of bunting which mum and dad had made themselves.

“The sun shone and it was very happy occasion.”