It was 'interest' at first sight when Dr John Birkett introduced his younger brother Peter to teenage beauty Vera Behr at Saltaire Tennis Club in 1938.

But two years later a perfect match was declared when they married at St Mary Magdalene's Church 60 years ago today.

The couple acknowledge, however, that it was only chance that brought them together - for they might never have met if Vera's parents had not fled persecution in Russia.

Mrs Birkett was only five weeks old when she was smuggled out of Moscow in 1919.

Her mother, Mary, was the daughter of a wealthy mill-owner and her father, Alexander, an officer in the Tsar's army.

During the Russian Revolution, Alexander's brother was shot dead by the Bolsheviks and the family escaped to England.

"Our nanny also came because she wanted to escape from Russia and my grandfather gave them some money. My father then started working in textiles. He came so frequently to Bradford that they decided to move here when I was ten," she said.

Mrs Birkett went to Bradford Girls' Grammar School and later trained as a hairdresser.

"My mother never really spoke to us about what had happened. I think it may have been too painful for her."

Instead their nanny, known to the children as Nanya, taught them Russian and entertained them with stories and songs.

"When we were older my mother and I always spoke to each other in Russian. It was like a special bond between us," said Mrs Birkett. She and her husband - who worked in textiles and became chairman of Thomas Crossland in Sunbridge Road, Bradford - have travelled a lot but Mrs Birkett has never been back to Russia.

"We nearly went in 1994 with our son John but at the airport I started to feel unwell and the doctor said I was unable to fly.''

The couple, from Highgate, Heaton, are celebrating their diamond wed- ding with a special dinner tonight and a big family get-together on September 3.