IT was a romance which blossomed in the exotic darkness of the cinema.

She was the usherette and he was the projectionist.

The romance between 18-year-old Doreen Baldry and Tony King, aged 22, was so strong, they even married in secret.

But the magic of the silver screen at the Odeon Cinema in Welling High Street, where they both worked, endured and the couple, who still live in Welling, have just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

The couple were so afraid of the disapproval of their mothers, they did not tell their families about their wedding.

Instead they hopped on a 96 bus to Dartford, where they married in the register office.

Mr King was wearing his National Service demob suit and after the ceremony the newlyweds shared a punnet of local strawberries.

Then they travelled back to Welling and went home to their families.

It was a week before they plucked up the courage to tell everyone they were married.

The cinema closed in 1960 and Mrs King, now 78, worked in Woolworth’s at Welling Corner for 25 years and Mr King, 82, worked at Belvedere power station.

They also ran a newsagent’s shop in Northumberland Heath for a number of years, and have lived in the same house in Hartley Road for 53 years.

Until it was demolished, Mr King had been a lifelong member of East Wickham Working Men’s Club.

The couple, who have three children and three grandchildren are expecting their first great grandchild in November.

They celebrated with a family party at the Boathouse in Danson Park, Welling.