Couple celebrate anniversary alongside Queen (From Your Local Guardian)

Merton couple celebrate 65th anniversary alongside Queen

10:40am Wednesday 13th June 2012 in News By Lizzie Buchan

A Merton couple are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary this month, alongside the Queen and Prince Phillip, who were also married in 1947.

Alan and Mary Ebers, 89, of Derby Road, have been married since 21 June 1947 and lived in the Merton area all their lives.

Mrs Ebers said reaching their 65th anniversary "means a lot" to them and they are thrilled to be receiving a card from the Queen on the day.

The couple received "a wonderful card" from the Queen and Prince Phillip on their 60th wedding anniversary too.

She said: "We are great ones for the royal family."

The Ebers, who have known each other for nearly 70 years, met at school in Merton.

Mrs Ebers said: "We met first over the school wall but we didn’t really start going out together until we were about 16."

Before they retired Mr Ebers was employed by building merchants and Mrs Ebers worked for Bradbury Wilkinson, a company that manufactured foreign bank notes in New Malden.

The Ebers have been living in the same house in Derby Road for 62 years.

Mrs Ebers said: "When we moved in it was all shared between families and it has altered so much, they are all solicitors and city workers now."

She added: "That said most of the people on the street are friendly to us. When my husband was in the hospital they were sweet, I had knocks at my door to check if I was ok and offers of shopping."

Their daughter Janet Webb, of Chestnut Drive, Ipswich said: "Their lives particularly track the Queen’s as they were married the same year as her, my sister is the same age as Prince Charles and I was born the year after Princess Anne.

"They were married in 1947, if you think we live in austerity, imagine my mother wore a second hand wedding dress. Then there was a waiting list of people to use it after her."

She added: "They are not going to be unique in the borough but they are rare.

"They are absolutely amazing people."