SEVENTY years of marriage were celebrated last week by a 'platinum' couple from Lamerton, writes John Hutchins.

Anne, 89, and Fred Brown, 90, were joined by their family — including a surprise visit from their son and his wife, who came all the way from the west coast of the United States to join in the celebrations.

The couple met in 1935 when Anne was 15 and Fred was 17 and four years later, a couple of months after the outbreak of the second world war, they were married in 1939 in London by special licence — however, Anne and Fred were soon separated by the hostilities for most of the next six years.

Before he enlisted in the Army, Fred was a trained engine driver and when the port of Folkstone in Kent was bombed by the Luftwaffe it was Fred who was the first driver to take his train over a bridge into the harbour, despite the dangers. He also had the perilous task of driving munition trains.

He joined the Royal Engineers and this included service in India. On his return in 1946 Fred resumed his occupation as an engine driver on the Great Western Railway, regularly travelling between Paddington, Plymouth and Penzance.

Anne started her working life in Knightsbridge, London, as a dressmaker and tailoress and went onto to become a trained furrier — she was once commissioned to make a set of deck pyjamas for Hollywood film star Merle Oberon of Wuthering Heights and Scarlet Pimpernel fame.

All their summer holidays were spent in the West Country and Fred and Anne decided to move from Kent to Devon 12 years ago to live at Trevenn Farmhouse, with their daughter, Anne Walton-Waters, and son-in-law, Lynn, a retired Royal Navy submarine officer.

Peter, their son, and his wife, Anne-Marie, have lived in California for 35 years but were more than happy to come over for this very special occasion.

Anne and Fred have two grand-daughters and two great-granddaughters, who are all in the USA.

The platinum couple were treated to a special anniversary meal by their family at the Dartmoor Inn at Lydford,