LOVING couple Dereick and Edna Taylor have two reasons to celebrate on Christmas Day.

Like millions of others, the Horwich couple will be joining in the festivities — and they will also be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

The pair, both 81, got married on December 25, 1954 at Horwich Parish Church and say they are more in love than ever.

A 20-year-old Mr Taylor plucked up the courage to ask his future wife if he could walk her home and the rest, as they say, is history.

Despite serving as a cook in the RAF in Somerset, Mr Taylor regularly came home to visit his wife, and proposed to her at a Christmas Eve dance at Rivington Barn.

Mr Taylor said: "I went to see the Reverend Mitchell at the church about getting married. He said 'what are you doing Christmas Day?' and I said 'not much' so we decided to do it then.

"It was a miserable, cold winter's day and there was a lot of rain, but it was a very homely affair and we had a great time."

Mrs Taylor said: "It was a quiet day because everyone was with their families. It was a very nice occasion — Dereick had brought up a television all the way from Weston-super-Mare and the RAF boys gave us an enormous wedding cake."

Mr and Mrs Taylor celebrated their honeymoon in Morecambe before Mr Taylor returned to Somerset until April 1955.

For the rest of their married life, the couple have lived in Horwich and currently live together in Lower Makinson Fold.

Mr Taylor worked as a painter and decorator in his younger years, while Mrs Taylor was a weaver.

They had two children — Barrie, aged 51, and Stephanie, aged 57, who died earlier this year.

At present, they have five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, with another on the way in April.

The couple were asked how they have stuck at it for so long and the answer was quite simple.

Mr Taylor said: "I think give and take is the key. I believe that's what's going wrong with a lot of marriages today — it's all 'me, me, me'.

"We've had our differences and arguments like everyone does, but you should remember what you mean to each other and kiss and make up.

"My feelings for Edna are as strong as ever. We couldn't manage without each other."

Mrs Taylor added: "There's no such thing as not falling out, but you have to appreciate what you have. That's the problem today — people have it too easy.

"It's a great achievement to get to 60 years. I wouldn't change a thing."

Mr and Mrs Taylor's daughter-in-law Katherine Taylor paid tribute to the couple.

She said: "I first met them 30 years ago when I started going out with Barrie.

"They are such lovely people and are always really helpful. They have a great sense of humour and are always busy. They just keep each other going."