Andover has paid tribute to two staples of the high street as a celebration of their lives was held today.

Margaret and Michael Fraher were regularly seen in the high street as they headed into town together for breakfast and shopping after 57 years of wedded bliss. They passed away within a month of each other, with Margaret passing on June 11 and Michael on July 3.

Posting on Facebook, their niece, Louise Hoskins, paid tribute to the messages left by the people of the town, saying: “Thank you all so much for your kind words. I knew they were known in Andover but all these messages are a nice reassurance that they will be in your thoughts”.

The couple met in the 1950s, after Michael moved from Ireland to England to find work in 1952. While on the train to London, he spotted the McDougalls Flour Mill next to Andover Station, and got off the train to get a job there.

Speaking to the Advertiser in 2013, he said that his relationship with Margaret started when she helped him clock in at the machine, which he was having difficulty with.

Over time, waves across the office before becoming more serious.

“I knew something was going to make us work for 50 years, he said. “I want another 50 years.”

They were married on October 12 1963, and spent the following decades in a variety of roles. Both worked at RAF Andover for a time, Michael as a refueller and Margaret as a messenger. Michael would later work at AJ Dennings for over 23 years, while Margaret would work as a cleaner at Portals.

In their retirement, they still spent all their time together, and marked their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2013. Sadly, they were not to make it to their Diamond, passing away earlier this year.

A celebration of their life was held at St Mary’s Church on Monday, July 5.