Ernest Towers and Gwen Wilkinson weren't too keen when they were asked to make up a foursome with his best friend and his friend's girlfriend.

"She said she wouldn't walk the street with me!" he said.

Luckily she changed her mind, and yesterday the Cross Hills couple celebrated 60 years of marriage.

The couple met while working at Bairstow's Mill, Sutton, where Ernest was an apprentice engineer and Gwen a spinner.

They returned to Gwen's home town of Rossington, near Doncaster, for their marriage, before setting up home in Sutton.

During the war, Gwen continued her work at the mill while Ernest was away in the RAF. He was based at Woodvale, near Southport, and worked night and day fixing the aircraft that returned from action.

The hours were long and tough and Ernest contracted meningitis. It was touch and go whether he would make it through, and he says it was sheer luck and determination that he did.

Ernest's motto has always been KBO - "Keep Beggaring On". He left the RAF as a corporal.

The couple have two children, Michael, 57, and Shirley, 52, six grandchildren and a great grandchild, one- year-old Rachel.

Ernest continued his working life at the mill, where he was in charge of maintenance, and when the mill closed he helped to set up the technology college on Dalton Lane, Keighley, while Gwen worked at Peter Black's, also in Keighley.

But Ernest wasn't averse to a bit of moonlighting, and supplemented his income by helping out on farms, repairing watches and clocks, and fixing and designing trials cars.

He designed and built two trials racing cars which competed in the Rest and Be Thankful hill climb race held every year in Scotland.

He was also a member of the New Field Players in the 1950s, where he always played the dame in the pantomimes held to raise money for a new field for Glusburn Cricket Club.

He finally retired from the college in 1983, but continued an active life, pursuing his passion for art, engineering and travelling.

A founder member and honorary life member of Sutton Art Club, Ernest is surprisingly also a dab hand at cake decorating. The couple enjoy travelling, and have flown twice over the North Pole, visited Korea, Spain and all over England.

"Life's been very good to us in lots of ways. We've had some difficult times, but if you are determined, and prepared for sheer hard graft, you are going to succeed," Mr Towers said.

He described his wife as 'an angel' and said they were very lucky to have spent their lives together.

The couple are celebrating their anniversary with their family at the Dog and Gun, Glusburn.