CAPTAIN Theo Sax, 87, and his wife Pam, 80, celebrated their diamond wedding with family and friends at Minehead’s Northfield Hotel on Saturday February 17.

The year after falling in love with West Somerset while on holiday, the couple bought a house at Headon Cross on the outskirts of Minehead and have lived there ever since.

Theo retired in 1985 after 42 years at sea, 15 as master with the Furness Withy Line and its subsidiary the Prince Line. Pam worked as a secretary in a London insurance company before becoming a riding instructor.

At Saturday’s party, the couple had an RNLI Collection bucket for donations instead of gifts and £120 was raised.