It was a double diamond wedding anniversary for two sisters from Soham who celebrated sixty years of marriage.

Ely Standard: It was a double diamond wedding anniversary for two sisters from Soham who celebrated 60 years of marriage. Here pictured celebrating at The Old Hall in Stuntney is Shirley and Philip and Elaine and Brian with the cards from the Queen and cakes. Picture: FAMILYIt was a double diamond wedding anniversary for two sisters from Soham who celebrated 60 years of marriage. Here pictured celebrating at The Old Hall in Stuntney is Shirley and Philip and Elaine and Brian with the cards from the Queen and cakes. Picture: FAMILY (Image: Archant)

Shirley Human married Philip Howe on February 21 1959 while Shirley's sister Elaine Human married Brian Cooper on June 6 1959.

Both weddings were held at the Baptist Church, in Soham, and both receptions were held at Soham Village College.

Shirley and Philip met at the Soham Youth Club in 1953 and Elaine and Brian met at an event on the Paradise Field on August Bank Holiday in 1955.

After their wedding, Shirley and Philip lived in Soham for 10 years before moving to Maidenhead in Berkshire.

Ely Standard: It was a double diamond wedding anniversary for two sisters from Soham who celebrated 60 years of marriage. Here the family enjoy the celebrations together at The Old Hall in Stuntney. Elaine and Brian with grandchildren Hannah, Becky, Addie, Alfie and Arthur. Picture: FAMILYIt was a double diamond wedding anniversary for two sisters from Soham who celebrated 60 years of marriage. Here the family enjoy the celebrations together at The Old Hall in Stuntney. Elaine and Brian with grandchildren Hannah, Becky, Addie, Alfie and Arthur. Picture: FAMILY (Image: Archant)

Philip was an electrician and Shirley worked as a school secretary at The Shade School in Soham and later at a school in Cox Green, Maidenhead.

They had two sons, Ian and Andrew and now have two grandsons, Archie and Sammy.

Elaine and Brian lived in Bishops Stortford for a year after their wedding, then they moved to Norfolk in 1961.

They lived there until 1972 when Brian was moved to Cambridge in his job.

Ely Standard: It was a double diamond wedding anniversary for two sisters from Soham who celebrated 60 years of marriage. Here the family enjoy the celebrations together at The Old Hall in Stuntney. Shirley and Philip with grandchildren Sammy and Archie. Picture: FAMILYIt was a double diamond wedding anniversary for two sisters from Soham who celebrated 60 years of marriage. Here the family enjoy the celebrations together at The Old Hall in Stuntney. Shirley and Philip with grandchildren Sammy and Archie. Picture: FAMILY (Image: Archant)

They had two sons by then, Paul and Tim, and they decided to live in Ely.

Brian was a B.T. engineer and had to move with his job whenever he was promoted.

Elaine had a few secretarial jobs wherever they moved to and also had a number of years as a school secretary at Soham Village College and The King's School in Ely.

They now have five grandchildren, Hannah, Becky, Addie, Alfie and Arthur.

Ely Standard: It was a double diamond wedding anniversary for two sisters from Soham who celebrated 60 years of marriage. Here the family enjoy the celebrations together at The Old Hall in Stuntney. Picture: FAMILYIt was a double diamond wedding anniversary for two sisters from Soham who celebrated 60 years of marriage. Here the family enjoy the celebrations together at The Old Hall in Stuntney. Picture: FAMILY (Image: Archant)

Elaine said: "It does not feel like 60 years at all. We enjoy each others company and both of us have good families.

"We have always worked together and tried to be understanding.

"We are the lucky ones."

To celebrate their anniversaries, they went to the Old Hall at Stuntney where 32 members of their families enjoyed a lovely meal.

They both received a card from the Queen.

"It was a fantastic occasion and so lovely to get the family all together and afterwards we wandered around the grounds," Elaine added.

"Everyone said roll on the 70th anniversary for another celebration."