A COUPLE who have been married for 70 years have just been celebrating their anniversary with family members and friends.

Son of a Lydney police sergeant, Harold Wilks, now 94, met Betty Morris when they both attended Lydney Grammar School.

The Second World War interrupted Harold's teaching career, but after service in the RAF he was able to restart, moving to Leicester where he has been ever since.

Harold's eldest brother Ronald did not fare so well in the war, losing his life when his ship was torpedoed in the Northern Straits by a submarine.

Another brother, Keith, also took up teaching and wrote a book about his experiences, A Teacher in the Forest. Vernon, formerly a postmaster at Lydney, died in 1989.

"We had a big lunch party to get together with lots of family members and friends," said Harold.

"There are not so many now of course, when we are in our 90s, but it was good to see everyone."

The couple have two children, Anthony and Veronica, who both live in the Uppingham area not far from Leicester.