Surprise party for Isle of Wight couple's 60th anniversary

Chris and Diana Mills, from Shanklin, met at the dances held at the Trouville Hotel in Sandown and were married at Yaverland Church in 1963.

After a honeymoon in Oxford, the couple spent some of their early married life in Germany with the army.

Chris was a trooper in the 10th Royal Hussars before working various jobs, including as a bakery delivery driver and flat roofer.

Married 60 years: Diana and Chris Mills from Shanklin (Image: Sue John)

Diana was a shop assistant and worked as a home help and cook at a residential home in later years. 

They have three children, Sue, Dawn and Allan, as well as six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a little dog called Willow.

Family is a very important part of Chris and Diana’s day-to-day life.

When the family was younger, the couple enjoyed trips away at holiday camps, but in later years have travelled abroad to destinations including Kenya, Gambia, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Spain, France and Greece – as well as the occasional cruise and coach holiday.

Chris and Diana celebrated their special day with a surprise party in Sue’s garden with 48 friends and family, some of whom travelled from the mainland and others who the pair had not seen in a long time.