AN Exford couple celebrated 60 years of wedded bliss last week and held an open day at their home in Lower Newlands to mark the occasion.

Reginald and Dorrie Cane were joined by friends and relatives as they opened their garden for a coffee morning and put their plants and flowers up for sale in aid of the Exford Gardening Club and Exford Wednesday Club.

And their home was filled with over 150 cards including one from the Queen.

As they celebrated their diamond wedding, they were able to recall how Dorrie first fell for postman Reg when she worked as a waitress in Body's café, Minehead, and he used to deliver the post.

Soon afterwards, Reg popped the question and the happy couple tied the knot in 1942 at Minehead's Baptist Church.

Reg was born in West Somerset and attended Watery Lane School before he became a telegram messenger and later a postman in 1940.

A year later, he joined the Army and was enlisted with the Chemical Warfare Royal Engineers but when the group disbanded he served with Field Company in Europe.

He then returned to work at Minehead Post Office until 1951 when he was stationed at Exford. Reg recalled the severe winter of 1963 when some remote farms were cut off by snow for six weeks and the problems surrounding the Lynmouth flood disaster.

His services to the post office did not go unnoticed and was given the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the Imperial Service Medal before he retired in 1983.

Dorrie was born in Simonsbath and, after leaving the local school, was employed at Body's café and later volunteered to join the Land Army, working at Thorne Farm, Wheddon Cross, until 1945.

They are still active and enjoy getting their fingers green in the garden and taking a keen interest in wild birds.

Photo: Steve Guscott.