A SANDOWN couple who met at a dance hall in Cardiff will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary today (Thursday, March 25).

Norman and Natalie Warner concluded the secret to a long marriage was a lot of "give and take".

"We enjoy a lot of the same things," said Norman, 85.

"We both like the arts. I paint, and Natalie has always been interested in music and singing."

Born in Caerphilly in South Wales, Natalie, 87, was schooled in the town and went to college in Cardiff.

For her first job, she worked as a secretary in a shipping office at Cardiff Docks.

Natalie was previously a member of the Penarth Ladies Chorus Society, a professional singing group, and used to go abroad and sing ­— visiting countries like Switzerland and Holland.

They appeared often on the television and radio.

Norman was born in London as an identical twin, but spent his formative years in Twickenham.

After school, he studied accountancy and worked with a number of major companies including the EMI and the Rank Organisation.

He also enlisted with the Royal Air Force for three years during his late teens, signing on as a regular so he could continue with his accountancy training.

The pair met in 1958, just before Christmas, while Norman was doing an audit in Cardiff.

The couple courted over the telephone to start with, before Norman went back to Cardiff and spent a week with Natalie and her parents.

They married in 1961, in Caerphilly, and honeymooned in West Wales.

They had two children, Paul and Helen, and moved to the Isle of Wight in 1971. They lived in Shanklin initially, but moved to Sandown in 1973.

Norman later launched his own accountancy business ­— NF Warner and Co. ­— where Natalie also worked and did the majority of the typing.

After 25 years, the couple retired. They plan to spend their anniversary at home, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Daughter Helen will cook and deliver them a meal, and Norman says they will spend the day relaxing and enjoying their mutual interests.

When lockdown concludes, the couple plan to celebrate their anniversary properly with their children and four grandchildren.