A SENSE of humour and tackling problems together are among the secrets of a long and successful marriage.

That is the view of Jim Murrell who with his wife Olive are celebrating their diamond anniversary.

Sixty years ago on February 25 the Chester-le-Street couple tied the knot at St George’s Church at Fatfield, Washington, having met at the Washington Chemical Company and discovered a mutual love of music.

The Murrells celebrated with a party for 50 family and friends on Saturday.

After working in the costs department and as organisation manager at the chemical firm, Mr Murrell moved to Newcastle where he was financial director for 12 companies including a transport firm, furniture shop, electrical wholesalers and Welsh mine.

He left in the 1960s and with his wife bought and ran the general dealers in Ropery Lane, Chester-le-Street, for about 20 years. He also set up an accountancy firm.

Both are well-known in the town and have a wide circle of friends. Mrs Murrell was a founder member of North Lodge WI and president of Inner Wheel.

Mr Murrell was involved with the town’s chamber of town and was a director of the national chamber of trade, president of the Lions Club and the Rotary Club and chairman of the town twinning association.

He also was a director of the town’s 1100 years anniversary celebrations of the Ankers House Museum.

The couple, who live in Low Flatts Road, have two sons, David and Stewart, and four grand-children.

The vital ingredient for marital harmony: "It is a sense of humour, absolutely - to be able to laugh at life and each other,’’ Mr Murrell said.

"Fighting circumstances, too. Whatever has come along we have faced it and never lain down to it.’’