WHEN 14-year-old Bernard Shaw first laid eyes on Val, he knew he had met the love of his life.
At the time, he was a member of the Boys' Brigade and he spotted Val, then a 12-year-old member of the Girls' Brigade, at an event at Tooting Junction Baptist Church.
"He was playing the drums and I was watching him," Mrs Shaw, 81, remembers.
Sat in their home in Beech Road, Reigate, Mr Shaw, 82, said: "I looked at her and thought 'she's a lovely bird', I couldn't let her go. I didn't want anyone else to get her."
The couple, who celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on March 27, now have a family stretching across four generations, including two great-granddaughters.
Mr Shaw, a retired draughtsman, married his beloved after he came out of the Army in 1954, and the couple moved to Reigate 14 years ago.
Now they enjoy spending some of their time travelling, especially to Florida and Italy.
Mr Shaw added: "I like to see mountains; I love mountains and we went to Italy to see them.
"One of our daughters lives in Florida so we visit there a lot and we have friends out there."
At home, the Shaws are involved in the local community..
Mr Shaw is a keen member of Reigate Priory Cricket Club and Mrs Shaw, a retired teacher, is a keen participant in the University of the Third Age.
And the secret to 60 happy years?
Mrs Shaw said: "The key is co-operation, consideration and a sense of humour."
