IT was a romance that blossomed by candlelight and led to a 60-year partnership which was celebrated by one Mitchel Troy couple last week.

Henry and Margaret both lived in Trellech where they met one night in an unusual way.

Margaret Slaughter explained: “Henry was ploughing a field and it was getting dark and I said to my father that I didn’t want him ploughing in the dark so I took him a candle in a jam jar”. After that, he asked her out.

They got engaged in 1957 and married in Trellech Church in 1958.

The couple lived for 18 months in Crown Cottage in Raglan, Henry worked at Blue Door Farm when Jack Mullins was there. On the death of Henry’s father, they returned to Trellech and lived there for 30 years.

Henry then worked for the forestry and then the Electricity Board for 30 years and Margaret has worked for the Co-op and Stead and Simpsons in Monmouth before becoming a well-known face at the Electricity Board shop in Monmouth working with Mrs Everett.

Their secret for a long life together is simply tolerance and getting along “we have always been happy” added Margaret. They both looked forward to a weekend of celebrations with family.