A WARTIME funfair on the streets of York provided the happy meeting place for one loving couple.

Don Brind was a soldier stationed in York, and young Dolly was just 17, when the couple met on Coney Street and fell in love.

"My mum said we were too young, and wasn't going to let us get married at first," said Dolly. "But we knew anything could happen, Don could be sent abroad to war, so it was all we wanted."

Eventually all was agreed and the couple were married by special licence at St James' Church in Clifton, with the couple celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary today. Now after 60 years, Don and Dolly, of Eastholme Drive, have four sons, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

The couple live in the school bungalow at Rawcliffe Infant School, where they worked together for more than 16 years, Don, 80, as the caretaker, and Dolly, 78, as the cleaner. Dolly said: "It's all about being together, and working at it. We all have our tiffs, anyone who says they don't is fibbing, but you have to work your way through them." They will celebrate their anniversary with a party organised by their sons. "A marriage is really just like a party; all you really need is enough food and a lot of drink," said Don. "Then again," said Dolly, "the most important thing is a good sense of humour."

Updated: 10:21 Thursday, February 27, 2003