A COUPLE born and bred in Torpoint have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at the home they have shared for almost half a century. Bob and Doreen Madge celebrated with family and friends on Thursday, June 23, at their home in York Road. Torpoint mayor Julie Martin and her consort called on the couple, presenting a beautiful basket of flowers. They also received a congratulatory card from the Queen. Bob was born on January 5, 1924, at The Crescent, which is now part of Antony Road and Doreen was born Doreen Searle, on October 8, 1925, at Harbour View, now part of Marine Drive. Doreen's father was a policeman in the Metropolitan Police, but her mother returned to Torpoint for her brothers', sister's and her birth to ensure they were all 'Torpointers.' The couple have seen many changes in the town and even remember going along to the 'workhouse' that was in Marine Drive, with the Sunday school choir which gave concerts to the residents. On leaving school at 16, Bob took the Dockyard entrance exam. His father had to pay five shillings for a Civil Service stamp to enable him to sit the exam – something the family could ill afford, says Bob. Bob passed the exam and became a shipwright, where he stayed until he was 52, becoming a professional technical officer. He was then invalided out with rheumatoid arthritis. Always good with his hands, Bob has made many picture frames. His daughter-in-law describes him as a DIY expert. Doreen won a scholarship at Torpoint and went on to school at Saltash. She learnt shorthand and typing and, on leaving school, went to work for the General Electric Company, electrical wholesalers. On their marriage, near the end of World War Two at the then Congregational Church in Wellington Street, electrical goods were just starting to come back into the shops. They received two electric fires, an iron, kettle and toaster to start their married life. Bob joked that the toaster is still probably working, where he left it in his office at the dockyard. Bob recalls fondly, their first form of transport – an ex-army war department Norton motorcycle and sidecar. Although only 500cc, Bob said they travelled all over Britain on it, having some wonderful holidays. The couple have one son, Robert, a retired Royal Naval captain, who lives with his wife, Sue, in Gunnislake. They have two granddaughters, Frances, a teacher and Alexandra, an accountant. When asked their secret of a long and happy marriage, Bob was keen to say: 'I think I can honestly say we have not had a hard word between us in our life.' There is a family history of diamond weddings, with not only Doreen's parents but also her grandparents having celebrated more than 60 years of marriage.