A COUPLE who travelled across the world before settling in Farnham have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

John and Pat Brown met at a church in Beeston, Nottinghamshire. It was a chance meeting, after Pat’s friend suggested she visit a new church with her.

When asked about when they first met, Pat said: "He asked if I would go out with him and I said I’m not sure."

But the couple - Pat aged 18 and John aged 19 - continued to write to each other as John completed his training as an Army apprentice.

Pat said: "He came home on leave and we met up and went out together - I guess we never looked back."

The couple soon married at Beeston Methodist Church in Chilwell Road on August 18, 1956.

Being under 21, the couple were unable to live together in married quarters at the time.

They later moved to various places around the world, including York, Malta and Libya.

The couple went on to have four "wonderful" children; Lynne, Jane, Tim and Ian, and settled into Farnham in 1977.

"And we have lived in the same house ever since," Pat said.

After moving, the couple have continued to attend church and are members of The Spire Church on South Street.

To celebrate their 65 years of marriage, the couple took a trip to Ockenden Manor in West Sussex, before visiting one of their sons in Brighton.

And when asked what the secret to 65 years was, Pat said: "One thing my mother told me was marriage is not always easy, you have to work at it - and I think that’s a good slogan.

"And don’t forget, you must always say to each other ’I love you’.

"Love is the pinnacle really, you have got to be in love. And never go to bed on an argument."