A COUPLE got a pleasant surprise when their family organised a surprise celebration for their diamond wedding anniversary.

A telegram from the Queen greeted Betty, 83, and Gareth Edwards, 82, as they were treated to a visit to Trinity Church in Penarth where they were married on July 30, 1955 at the exact time on which they tied the knot (2pm).

Their daughter Jo Edwards along with her sisters Ali and Jane from Caerphilly, Newbury and Cornwall respectively, thought it would be nice to organise something big in memory of the occasion.

Their mother, then Betty Eileen Mears, grew up on Ivy Street in Penarth and met Gareth, originally from Dowlais, on Penarth Pier four years before they became man and wife.

Gareth had been a telephone engineer and his daughter Jo described him as a "proud person who will always find a way to get things done."

Betty had been a machinist at Llandough hospital and Jo mentioned how the family had lived in South Africa for a year in 1975.

Jo said: "It was only the day before that I had asked them what exact time they had got married and they told me 2pm."

The sisters rang Trinity Methodist Church in the hope they would be able to go into the church and look at their marriage certificate.

Reverend Teddy Kalongo said he was happy to be able to do it.

The three sisters along with their six children took Mr and Mrs Edwards back to where they first met on the beach next to Penarth Pier and then on to the first house which they bought together for £800.

Mr Edwards had put hist watch down as a deposit to secure it for them.

Finally, at 2pm they arrived at the church. Mrs Edwards doubted whether the church would be open but as they approached the door, Rev Kalongo came out to greet them.

When asked how he knew about the anniversary, he said: "I just guessed."

The couple who live in Sully spent 45 minutes talking about that day 60 years ago and looking at photos and their marriage certificate

Jo Edwards said: "It was just a lovely day. They were very overwhelmed by it all. It was my mother's birthday the following day as well so it was a fantastic few days."

The family, including six grandchildren Alex, Robin, Harriet, Anai, Harrison and Cerys plan to go out for a meal to continue the celebrations.