WHEN Astley girl Doris Parry told her family that she planned to marry her RAF sweetheart Jack Sexton after a few months of whirlwind courtship, she was warned that it would not last.

But on Jack and Doris have continued to prove the doubters wrong by celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary, 60 years on from their wartime marriage at Astley St Stephen's Church.

Doris, 82, recalled that she had met some family opposition when she first broke the news of her engagement to London-born Jack, who she met in Blackpool while on leave from the Fire Service. He was stationed there with the Royal Air Force.

"One of my brothers warned me against it and said it wouldn't last, but we both knew it was right. My brother was won over before the wedding took place and I am happy to say we have proved him wrong" she said.

Doris is the last surviving child of Israel and Margaret Parry, who ran the Ross's Arms in Astley Green for half-a-century and, after Jack had completed wartime service in India, she and Jack set up home in the village after their marriage.

After working in the police force and for Ward and Goldstone at Tyldesley, Jack, now 79, joined the National Coal Board and eventually became area transport manager before he retired in 1979. Doris also worked for the NCB.

After living virtually all their married life in the Astley, Tyldesley and Leigh areas, the couple retired to North Wales and now live in Abergele.

They have two children, two grandchildren and two great-grand children who joined around 60 family members and friends for a celebration party at Westhoughton Golf Club.The couple received a telegram of congratulation from the Queen.

Doris became something of a national celebrity in 2001 when she answered the £125,000 question as phone-a-friend for her journalist son John on television's 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' helping him win a quarter of a million.