IT MAY not have been the most romantic proposal, but for neighbours, John and Pam Peisley, it was one that helped build a 60-year marriage.

Teasing each other as they sat down in their conservatory ahead of their diamond wedding anniversary today, Mr and Mrs Peisley were adamant it was not love at first sight when they met in 1954.

Mrs Peisley, 85, who had moved from Mussoorie, India, to Didcot when she was 22, was having her 24th birthday party and wanted to invite a few more boys.

Although the two lived opposite each other on Foxhall Road – Mrs Peisley at number 33 and Mr Peisley at number 44 – they had never met until the day of the party.

She recalled: "I was a teacher in Abingdon at the time and I just had lots of girls coming to my party who were my friends from teaching.

"I wanted to invite some more boys, and I asked one of my friends to bring some he knew and John came along.

"It was not love at first sight because John went out with all my friends first."

Mr Peisley, 83, who worked in the printing press at the Oxford Mail for 35 years, interjected and said: "Pam was particularly good looking and there was too much competition from all the other lads."

And Mr Peisley had good cause for concern: his wife-to-be had won several beauty queen titles, including Miss Mussoorie and Autumn Queen, during her teenage years in India.

She added: "He didn't like the number of boyfriends I had.

"He came over one day and asked me out to the pictures and he started getting angry because of the other fellas hanging around.

"I said you can't get angry, you have got nothing over me so he says, 'you have to marry me'.

"That was his proposal."

The couple married on March 17, 1956, at All Saints Church in Didcot and enjoyed their reception at the Conservative Club in Didcot.

After 18 months of staying in different bed and breakfasts, they saved £190 deposit for a maisonette in 1958.

Only a few years later the couple bought their bungalow, in Icknield Close, Didcot, where they still live today.

Sixty years on and the couple both agreed that the recipe for a long and happy marriage was showing kindness to each other.

Mrs Peisley said: "I do not know if he knows that I think this about him, but John never held a grudge.

"We would have some rows, but he would wake up the next day as if it didn't happen.

"I look after him and he looks after me.

"We have been kind to each other and I think kindness is a big thing."

Mr Peisley added: "We had some awful rows and there were times when she kicked me out twice a week."

The couple will be celebrating their anniversary with friends and family at the Goring and Streatley Golf Club today.