A well-known couple from Bedfont who have just celebrated their diamond anniversary say the secret to a long and happy marriage is "don’t take things to heart".

Sydney Best, 87, and wife Cynthia, 80, were thrown a surprise party by family with more than 100 people attending the celebrations of their 60th wedding anniversary at Fairholme Assembly Hall in Bedfont on Sunday.

Moments of the couple’s wedding day were recreated by their daughter Teresa Robinson, including a bouquet and button holes as well as a photo taken on the same spot outside St Mary’s Church, Bedfont, where they tied the knot 60 years ago.

The Bests, who moved into their home in New Road, Bedfont, 54 years ago, were thrilled to receive a letter of congratulations and best wishes from the Queen to mark the milestone yesterday (Thursday).

When asked how married life has changed from 1956 to 2016, Cynthia said: “It’s now less about the material things and more about quality time with family and friends.”

The wedding of Sydney and Cynthia Best in Bedfont in 1956

The pair grew up in Bedfont and while Sydney has lived in the area all his life and was the youngest of three children to James and Doris Best, Cynthia was the middle child to Harold and Alice Penfold and moved to the area at the age of four.

Their love story began in the early 1950s after being introduced to each other by mutual friend, Laurie Gilham.

They started dating when Cynthia was 17 and used to meet up at Bedfont Green where Sydney would show off riding his motorbike up and down the road.

They got engaged at the cinema three years after they met and were married in November 1956.

On the day of the wedding Cynthia proved to be an early bride and was stopped by the vicar shouting “not yet, not yet”, at the church doors, much to amusement of her friends who said "you’re in a bloody hurry" then laughed.

The couple went on to have two children, Gary in 1959 and Teresa in 1963; have four grandchildren Zoe, Alice, Christopher and Bradley; and four great-grandchildren Jake, Mason, Kase and Skye.

Both have led a hard-working life and encountered and overcome struggles along the way.

While Sydney was a local postman for many years and also served in the RAF working on spitfires and as a tanker driver, his doting wife worked in the kitchens at Bedfont School.

Sydney and Cynthia Best celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary

The Bests agreed that the best tip to a long and happy marriage was “to take things as they come and don’t take things to heart”.

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