A couple from Caerphilly celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, March 20.
Maldwyn Rogers, 88, married Margaret, 87, at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Senghenydd in 1954.
Granddaughter Ruth Madeley-Willis said: “When my grandfather was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago, he said the best part of having dementia was that he could fall in love with my grandmother over and over again.
“To this day they still hold hands and my granddad flirts like a naughty teenager.”
The couple received a card from the Queen to mark their anniversary and were visited by Caerphilly County Borough Mayor Mike Adams and Mayoress Gloria Adams.
The pair met in Caerphilly market when Margaret was working at a bible book shop and the couple have been heavily involved with local churches ever since.
They have been particularly involved with Pandy Lane Pentecostal Church in Caerphilly, where they were both Sunday school teachers.
Margaret said: “We had similar lives and did similar things and I knew straight away we’d get married.”
After their marriage, they spent their honeymoon in Eastbourne.
Maldwyn and Margaret bought their first house in Abertridwr, before moving to Caerphilly 59 years ago.
Maldwyn, who is originally from Abertysswg, worked as a coal miner at the pits in Nantgarw and later in Bedwas, where he was a union rep.
Margaret worked at Osbournes, which was located near Pontygwindy Road, as well as Pugh the Butchers in Senghenydd and Provident Financial.
More recently, Margaret’s main hobby has been making jam and chutney – producing more than 150 jars a year.
Margaret said: “I was making some stuff for friends at church and they started bringing in jam jars for me to make more.”
Daughter Susannah Rogers said: “The shed is full of jam jars, she’s been making jam for nearly 20 years.
She added: “We all used to go round the local churches singing and performing as a family.”
Daughter Joy Willis said: “One thing about my parents is no matter what problems we’ve had, they’ve been there for us. They’ve always supported us.”
Son-in-law Alan Willis said: “They’re a great couple who have always supported people.
“When our daughter, Ruth, was six months old and caught chickenpox, she passed it on to her poor old father. Maldwyn and Margaret looked after her for us so I could recover.
Family friend Gary Miller said: “I used to go to the same church as them in the 1970s. They’ve been a real inspiration to me and I’m glad we’ve kept a link.”
Maldwyn said: “The secret to a long and happy marriage is never to lie to each other and to always love each other.”