ONE very special couple in Cricklade have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this winter.

James - fondly known as Jim, and Brenda Marley celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary on Tuesday, December 17, with a lunch party at Cricklade House Hotel.

Jim and his family, including his two younger sisters and younger brother, were evacuated during the Second World War, having to leave their home in London and move to Cricklade, where they decided to stay.

Fortunately, this scary time in Jim’s life had a silver lining, as it was here that he met Brenda, who spent most of her youth here.

The pair met whilst Jim was helping a local milkman.

At 18 years old Jim joined the army, and Brenda remained in Cricklade, working in a glove factory.

In 1949 the couple were married in St Sampson’s Church, Cricklade and from here they moved into their first home in a married quarters in Germany, where they had their first daughter.

In 1952, the family moved from the army quarters to Blake Hill MOD camp, where Nissan huts were converted into temporary houses, it was here that they had their second daughter.

After spending a year in the hut, they moved into a council house on one of the first new housing estates in Cricklade, before buying their own home in the early 1960s, in which, they remain to this day.

Their family kept growing and they now have six grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Jim served on Cricklade’s Parish Council for many years and become a postman in his 30s, where he became well-known and loved before retiring at 65.

Fast forwarding to today, Jim, aged 93, and Brenda, aged 91, are still happily married with many additions to their family.

They often see Jim’s siblings, who have remained in Cricklade and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.