A COUPLE who first laid eyes on each other as children at Sunday school are celebrating 60 years of wedded bliss.
Jean and Stephen Toms marked their Diamond anniversary with a surprise party put on by their children Andrew, Mary, Paul and Michael, and grandchildren Joel, 18, Nathan, 15, Hannah Griffiths, 22, Ester, 6, Deborah, 4, Jesse, 18, Joanna, 16 and Sarah, 14, on March 16.
They first met during the 1940s at Stephen's father's church, Chase Cross Baptist Church, in Romford.
"If I hadn't been bombed out from the war, I might never have moved to Romford and we may never have met – it all happens for a reason," said Jean, 82, of Donald Way, Chelmsford.
"I was sent along to the Sunday school and that's how we met, we were only 11 or 12-years-old.
"We were friendly with each other but of course at that age you don't know you will end up marrying the guy."
"We've always been together," said Stephen, 82. "Apart from the time I joined the air force, but they sent me back after 37 days because they said I wasn't fit enough."
In 1953, Stephen and Jean decided to tie the knot where they first met.
Stephen added: "Attached to the church was a smaller building at the front which had asbestos, but because everyone thought it was a much nicer space we got married there – in asbestos."
The couple moved to Hertfordshire where they stayed for four years, and had two children, Andrew, 57, and Mary, 55.
Stephen then noticed advertisements on the train and in the newspaper about houses in Chelmsford, and thought it was too much of a coincidence not to check it out.
"We were the first people living on Donald Way in 1958," said Stephen. "There were just fields and orchards around us.
"But our main reason for moving here was the Ebenezer Strict Baptist Chapel, in New London Road, because finding the right place to practice our faith is very important to us."
The couple had their other two children, Paul, 52, and Michael, 48, in Chelmsford, and all their children, apart from Michael, live in the Moulsham area.
Stephen worked in insurance claims until he was made redundant in the 1980s, and has since dedicated his time to the charities Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony, where he publishes its quarterly magazine, and the Bible Spreading Union, helping to deliver bibles to people across the globe.
"We have enjoyed our lives together, and I think our faith is a big factor in why we are together," said Stephen.
"We are united in things and that is important if you want to stay together for as long as we have.
"We are not rich, and we never will be, but if it was based on other things like happiness then we are the richest people in the world.
"There have been ups and downs and disappointments. I had cancer which was treated and a heart attack and they gave me a quadruple bypass, but I am thankful for everything in my life.
"The only thing left is to keep enjoying it before we become really old and dithery."
