CHARLES?and Phyllis Robbins recently celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary after 70 years of marriage.

They are seen (right) on their wedding day on November 2, 1940, at Tottenham, London. On their wedding day, London had suffered heavy bombing. They were due to be married at the registry office, but when they arrived it had been bombed and the wedding ceremony had to be arranged at a nearby school in the headmaster's office.

The disruption caused by the bombing also prevented the groom's parents from attending the ceremony. Rationing was in force at the time and resulted in no icing for the cake, rice paper was used instead. There was no honeymoon as Charles was due back to the barracks the following day.

Charles and Phyllis have two children, Anthea and Stephen; three grandchildren, Jessica, Emma and James and two great-grandchildren, Oscar and Polly Rose. Seventy years later, the wedding anniversary celebrations were held at Beaumont Court, North Petherwin and there was icing on the cake!