A COUPLE who met over the phone while updating weather reports are celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

Derek and Elisabeth Ream, from Romanby, Northallerton, met whilst in Cologne, Germany, where he was stationed as an RAF air traffic controller.

He had to give weather reports to the British Forces radio station via German-born Elisabeth, a Post Office telephonist seconded to the radio station. They talked so much on the phone they eventually agreed to meet in person.

Elisabeth was meant to wear green gloves for their first meeting, so Derek would know who she was, but she panicked and took them off at the last minute. Luckily Derek realised it was her and approached her.

They were married in 1955 in Cologne and moved back to the UK where they lived in Hampshire for many years. Derek worked in pharmacology and also spent 29 years as a magistrate, while Elisabeth became a teacher in maths and German. At the age of 83 she has only just stopped marking German A-level papers.

The couple moved to Northallerton five years ago to be near their daughter and two grandchildren.

They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and were presented with a bouquet on behalf of Hambleton District Council.