Teenage sweethearts from Leeds celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary

Ken - who was aged 17 - placed 16-year-old Margery's photograph in his wallet and has carried it with him every day for the past 71 years.

And Margery, 86, still has the photo of Ken which he gave her after they first got together.

Ken and Margery Aveyard are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary today ( Weds March 17) with a meal and a bottle of wine at their home in Drighlington.

Ken, 87, said the black and white photo - which has 'To Kenneth with love from Margery' written on the back - remains his most prized possession.

"We are as much in love now as when we first met," said Ken

"We have been all right together. We have had a good marriage and hopefully it will continue for some time yet."

The Queen has sent the Aveyards a card congratulating them on their 65th wedding anniversary.

The couple, who got married at Birkenshaw Methodist Chapel on March 17 1956, have one son, Adrian, 57.

In 1950, Ken, from Gildersome and Margery, from Birkenshaw, both worked at Yorkshire Egg Producers in Drighlington.

Ken’s job was to visit farms across Yorkshire to collect eggs while Margery worked in the office.

They had only spoken in passing at work, but got chatting after a charity cricket match at Drighlington Cricket Club.

Ken was playing for a Yorkshire Egg Producers charity team and Margery had been watching.

The couple went out dancing on Saturday nights at Morley Town Hall and Cleckheaton Town Hall.

On Sunday nights they would go to the cinema at the Majestic in Leeds city centre.

Ken was called up for National Service aged 18 and served as a driver with the West Yorkshire Regiment at barracks in Strensall and Fulford, York.

He played cricket for Drighlington CC and football for Birkenshaw Rovers in the West Riding County Amateur league.

Margery went to Heckmondwike Grammar School and was a keen hockey and tennis player as a young woman.

She worked at Yorkshire Egg Producers for 40 years .

When she was 17, Margery worked at the Spenborough Guardian newspaper for around six months as a proofreader.

Ken worked at Yorkshire Egg Producers for 25 years and left when he was 42.

He worked for 14 years as a travelling sales representative for Bury-based Benson Victory V sweets, which was later taken over by Barker and Dobson of Liverpool.

He was a sales rep for Hunslet based Waterhouses Sweets for 10 years before retiring aged 63 in 1995.

In retirement they enjoy travelling and have been to Miami in America, Italy, Portugal and France.

Ken said in normal times they regularly clock up around 10,000 miles a year driving around the UK.