Navy meetingled to 60 years of marriage

Maurice and Margaret Ayling asked their relations and friends to make donations to the RNLI rather than buy them presents. Mr Ayling said: 'It's a good cause, it's a national charity which benefits everyone who goes to sea and, as an ex-sailor, I appreciate the work which the lifeboats do.'

One present which did catch the couple unawares was the series of gifts from their shooting friends. The diamond anniversary of their wedding occurred during their annual trip to the Royal Navy Target Rifle Club's Imperial Meeting at Bisley.

Mr Ayling has been shooting at Bisley for 61 years. The friendships he and his wife have established there were shown with a set of engraved glassware, some bottles of drink and gardening vouchers.

Straight after the Bisley meeting, the couple were off to Jersey for Mr Ayling's 30th appearance in the Channel Island's annual shooting tournament.

This hectic schedule means that tomorrowis their first chance to celebrate their anniversary with their family. They have three children and four grandchildren.

About 50 people '“ including relatives from Newfoundland, Plymouth, Ireland and Cumberland '“ are expecting to join them for the special occasion.

It was at HMS Daedalus at Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire that the couple met.

Petty Officer Mr Ayling (82), born in Sullington in West Sussex, went into an office in early 1946 to book a place on an electrical course after he returned from the final days of the second world war in the Pacific Ocean.

One of the Wrens typing away was his future wife who was born in Jarrow in County Durham. They were engaged a few months later and married at a church in Lee-on-the-Solent on July 26, 1947.

They soon moved to Australia for four years when Mr Ayling was seconded to that country's navy.

After their return to England, they moved into a newly built bungalow in Elizabeth Avenue in 1954 where they still live.

Mr Ayling left the Royal Navy in 1972 after 32 years. Mrs Ayling (83) had been a Wren for five years. She became well known to a generation of Bognor Regis schoolchildren as the welfare officer at Nyewood CoE Infant School for 20 years.

She was also the treasurer of the local branch of the Wrens Association as well as being involved in the Wednesday Afternoon Group social club.