Ron popped the question by dropping it into the conversation as he was driving girlfriend Grace home from a wrestling match.

The couple, of Heath Road, Locks Heath, had met when Ron, 79, was a motor mechanic at Wadham's in Southampton, and she was employed as a secretary.

Grace said: 'He seemed very shy, very quiet, at first. But he's not like that at all, he's got a very wicked sense of humour.'

As they started dating they would often go to wrestling bouts at the Royal Pier.

The 70-year-old said: 'I had never seen men fight before – we went because Ron loved it. It made me feel quite ill at first, but after that you couldn't keep me away.

'He just said one evening it might be a good idea if we got married, and I took it as a proposal. It was a bit of a shock to be honest – he was still driving – the ring came later.'

Ron joked: 'It was one of those things – she had me in an arm lock at the time.'

The couple married at The Avenue Congregational Church, in Southampton, on June 7, 1958, and set up their first home together in Locks Heath soon after.

Grace quit work for 20 years to bring up their four children, Christopher Carol, John and Mary, but spent 10 years at Humby's Bakery in Park Gate before retiring.

The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a surprise party at daughter Carol's home.

They hope to take a trip later in the year.