CHILDHOOD sweethearts Nellie and Owen Kellaway are celebrating their platinum wedding anniversary this month, after 70 years of married life.

Mr and Mrs Kellaway were married at the Anglican Church in Horrabridge during the second world war in March 1940, joined by best man Jim Kellaway, senior bridesmaid Mary Lillicrap from Walkhampton, and junior bridesmaid Yvonne Davey from Plymouth.

The couple lived in Walkhampton for the early years of their marriage, where Owen worked as a driver for F G Trathen and the Western National Bus Company before they emigrated to Australia with their children in 1960.

On arrival in Australia, Owen worked for a rubber company before purchasing a baker's run in Sydney. They later bought a farm let in New South Wales, where Owen owned and ran the local school bus service.

Owen, 91, and Nellie, 90, have two children, Graham and Denise, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and still live in their own home in Wauchope, where they will be having a quiet celebration of their anniversary with family and friends.