DESPITE clocking up 130 years of marriage between them, these three couples are far from driving each other crazy.The happy couples, who met through The Suffolk Vehicle Enthusiasts Club, are all celebrating milestone anniversaries this year.

DESPITE clocking up 130 years of marriage between them, these three couples are far from driving each other crazy.

The happy couples, who met through The Suffolk Vehicle Enthusiasts Club, are all celebrating milestone anniversaries this year.

Kath and Les Poulson, who own a 1934 Lanchester car, celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in March. Grace and Barry Naunton, who own a 1967 Bristol, celebrated their Ruby Wedding Anniversary in May, and Elaine and Colin Whitmore, who own a 1961 Armstrong Siddeley, are set to celebrate their Ruby Wedding Anniversary in August.

They all celebrated their long marriages by having a meal together at Seckford Hall, Woodbridge, and the Whitmores and Nauntons also went on a Mediterranean cruise with each other last month.

The husbands claimed they have always been interested in vehicles, starting with motorbikes and moving on to old cars. Whereas their wives' interest in the subject has grown over the years and now the club meetings are more of a social event.

Mr Whitmore, secretary to the club, said: “I have been the secretary of the club since 1989. I first got into motorbikes when I was 19 and it has grown from there.

“We all met through the club and have been friends ever since. We couldn't believe it when we all found out our anniversaries were the same year. It is a real coincidence.”

Mr and Mrs Poulson, of Malvern Close, Rushmere St Andrew, met on Mrs Poulson's (nee Spall) 21st birthday in 1953.

Mr Poulson, 78, said: “I had come to Ramsholt to repair the river wall and was invited to her party. The rest is history as they say.”

They have two children and two grandchildren.

Mr Whitmore, 66, of Rushmere Road, Ipswich, met Mrs Whitmore through his brother as they worked together. On one occasion, Mrs Whitmore, now 67, went to see his brother's stamp collection and on meeting Mr Whitmore knew it was the start of something special.

Mr and Mrs Naunton, of Queenscliffe Road, Ipswich, parents to two daughters and grandparents to three, met through ballroom dance classes at Gaumont, now the Regent Theatre.

All couples agree that the secret to a long marriage is submission.

Mrs Poulson laughed: “As long as he does what I tell him, we are happy.”

n. Do you have a milestone anniversary coming up? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

The Suffolk Vehicle Enthusiasts Club is one of the largest club catering for all vehicles in East Anglia with around 218 members. Monthly meetings are held from September to May at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club in Woolverstone on the last Thursday of each month. They also hold evening visits in June, July and August.

During the rally season the group support local charities by providing vehicle displays for their events.

The couples' treasured cars will be on display at the Helmingham Festival of Classics and Sports Car in August.

The event on August 5 takes place at Helmingham Hall between 10am and 5pm and will include live jazz and brass bands, craft and trade stalls and a barbeque. It is expected to draw in thousands of visitors.

Admission is £7 for adults and £3 for children.

All the proceeds will go to the East Anglian Children's Hospice in Ipswich. For more information call 01473 890799.

To find out more about the club call Elaine Whitmore on 01473 729512 or visit the website www.svec.org.uk.