A MAN who met his wife after opening a door on her best friend's face was celebrating 60 years of marriage today.

Bill and Joy Pearson, both 81, from Bishopthorpe, York, were in the air force and stationed at Skegness 60 years ago.

They met at an air force party, where Joy had gone with her friend. When Bill walked in, he accidentally hit her friend with the door as he opened it, and Joy went over to check she was all right. Joy and Bill were married three years later.

Although that was the first time they had met, Bill had noticed her before.

He said: "I saw her walking down the road in Skegness and I thought to myself 'I'm going to have a bit of that'!"

After the war Joy moved from her native Kent up to Bishopthorpe to settle down with Bill, where he became a professional footballer, playing for teams including Grimsby Town and Manchester City.

She thinks their marriage has survived because they accepted each other as they were.

She said: "You've got to get on with each other and be prepared to give and take.

"We fall out with each other like everyone else, but it's not often."

The couple celebrated with their sons Kevin and Keith, their two grandchildren and one great grandson.

Updated: 10:48 Saturday, January 18, 2003