BILL and Joan Trusler met when he was her boss at the former Shildon wagon works.

But, during the 60 years of marriage that followed, he says he has never had the upper hand again.

At the age of 15, Joan became a rivet heater at the town's thriving British Rail works, where Bill was a rivetter.

They married in 1947, settled in Shildon and had two daughters - Madeline and Beverley.

Madeline and husband, Trevor Horner, have a son, Lee, a firefighter, and daughter, Natalie, a police officer.

Beverley and husband, Gary Eltringham, have two sons - Craig and Matthew, an apprentice and student respectively.

Bill stayed on at the loco works until 1982 and his wife had several jobs in factories, including Flymo, in Newton Aycliffe, until she retired at the age of 56.

The couple, of Central Parade, Shildon, used to enjoy dancing and travelling abroad.

To celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary yesterday, they enjoyed a family party.

Bill, 83, said: "I was her boss when we met, but that was the last time. It works for us, because we are still happy after 60 years."

When the couple want to reminisce about their courting years, they visit the railway museum, in Shildon, where a life-size photograph of Joan working at the wagon works is on display.