The married owners of Hammertons Foot Ferry in Ham celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this month.

Brian Francis Spencer, 69, and his wife Jenny, who married in Sussex in 1976 and celebrated the anniversary on July 3, have run the ferry service linking Twickenham and Ham for 15 years.

When asked what the secret to a long and happy marriage was, Mr Spencer replied: “Being true to each other."

Mr Spencer said the ferry’s former owner, Stan Rust, asked him if he would like to help out for three days a week when he was 50, which he did for a few years.

He said: “He then asked me if I wanted to buy the company off of him. Which I did."

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

York Membery, a journalist living in Twickenham, said he uses the ferry every few weeks and also rents the company’s rowing boats and canoes.

He said: “Everyone who uses them knows they are friendly and always great people."

"They have been there a while and they are well known by the local residents."

Mr Spencer and his son, Andrew, now manage the running of the ferry.