AFTER 60 years of marriage, Newport man David Thomas is still delivering the romance making him the winner of our competition to find Gwent’s most romantic man.

Mr Thomas, 87, of Graig Park Circle, was nominated by his wife Vera, 82, who says that her husband still buys her flowers and always walks hand in hand with her.

In her entry to our competition, which was run in conjunction with Cardiff’s Capitol Shopping Centre, Mrs Thomas said: "He is very loving and although we are both over 80, I still think he is romantic."

The couple first met on February 18, 1949, at a conference arranged by the Methodist Association of Youth Clubs which was held in Southend-on-Sea.

Mrs Thomas, who was living in London, was sat next to Mr Thomas, who was from Chelmsford, and the pair soon got chatting.

After spending the weekend together involving a walk along the pier, Mr Thomas wrote to his mother in Barry saying he had met the girl he wanted to marry.

Five months later he proposed at Lake Bala, North Wales, and the pair became officially engaged with a ring in November that year.

They married on June 3, 1950, in Ilford and moved to Newport together in 1951.

The couple have four sons and 11 grandchildren. Their first great-grandchild is expected in July.

Mrs Thomas said: "I think the secret is just to agree with each other. I can honestly say we have never really had a row. I am delighted to have won but really surprised. There were so many lovely stories."

Mr Thomas said: "It’s lovely to have won. The prize will be very nice."

The pair will now enjoy a night at the deluxe four-star Mercure Holland House in Cardiff including dinner, bed and breakfast.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Long live love!

TODAY is of course all about celebrating love and, proving that we are not immune to its charms, we are today celebrating two fine romances.

We are delighted to announce the winner of our search for this year's most romantic man in Gwent.

Nominated by his wife Vera, David Thomas takes this year's title for still practising the fine art of romance after 60 years of marriage.

At a time when so many marriages fail it is heartening to be able to report on a couple whose marriage is as strong today as it was when they tied the knot all those years ago.

And proving that it is never too late to find love we also feature the story of 73-year-old Rowan Griffiths and Myra Percival, also in her 70s, who married at the weekend.

Rumours of romance being dead have obviously been greatly exaggerated.