JACK and Gwyneth Cornelius can't forget their marriage 60 years ago – halfway through being declared man and wife the clock struck 11 and the vicar and congregation fell silent!
"I have always felt grateful for that extra two minutes of freedom and tranquillity," Jack jokes about the moment which, of course, fell on Armistice Day, November 11, in 1939.
The couple, who now live in Chepstow, then lived in the neighbouring villages of Lewiston and Pantyrawel in the Ogmore Valley, and after becoming engaged had agreed to marry at Easter in 1940.
At the outbreak of war Jack was a regular in the RAF and was serving with No 149 (B) Squadron in Mildenhall, Suffolk. He had joined up in 1933 at the age if 16 as an aircraft apprentice.
Because there was a likelihood of the squadron moving to France they decided to bring their marriage forward.
Many of Jack's colleagues were making similar arrangements, and leave of absence for 72 hours was allocated to him for November 10-12.
His marriage by special licence had to be arranged for Saturday November 11 at Llangeinor Church, near their home villages.
"1939 was the last time that two minutes' silence was observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month regardless of the day of the week on which it fell," Jack recalls.
"So we just stood quietly for that period before the ceremony was continued and we were declared man and wife."
The couple celebrated their very unforgettable diamond wedding last week.