A HAPPY couple who exchanged Ramsbottom for life Down Under are celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Grandparents Bert and Barbara Burrows, formerly of Carrwood Hey, are marking their diamond wedding anniversary in style, at their retirement village in Australia.

The couple met in 1956 while they were both employed in the offices of Stubbins Paper Mill, which was known as Cromptons. Bert had just completed his National Service in the Army.

They were wed at St Joseph's RC Church in Ramsbottom on August 22, 1959, where they made their home and started a family.

After making eight visits between 1997 and 2014 to see family in Victoria, Australia, the Ramsbottom pair decided to make the move themselves in July 2015.

Bert said: "Barbara and I are enjoying life in Tudor Village which is a very nice retirement village in Lilydale Victoria, and near family, but we miss friends and neighbours in England, local walks, St Joseph's parish, and Barbara misses her weekly gatherings of Union Catholic Mothers at St Hilda's, Tottington, but we don't miss Ramsbottom's weather."

In his younger days, Bert was a former player for Ramsbottom Cricket Club and well known locally as a dance band saxophonist, compere, and solo entertainer. The couple still have a newspaper clipping of a wedding photo and write-up which featured in the Bury Times 60 years ago.

The couple were previously employed at Spencer Stubbins Vale Mills, which was run by the Porritt family, where Bert was later appointed office manager.

They have a daughter Carole and two sons Paul and Philip, and eight grandchildren, six of whom live locally in Australia.

They marked their diamond year with a short holiday at Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort and Spa, Yarra Glen, followed by a family meal.