A COUPLE who fell in love during the Second World War have reached an epic milestone, celebrating their platinum wedding anniversary after 70 years together.

Olive and Dennis Dicks exchanged vows at Highbridge Church back in 1945, after meeting during a Sunday afternoon walk and remain together today.

“I was a choir girl back then,” explained Olive, 92.

“In-between services I would go for a walk with my friends and it was on a Sunday afternoon that I met Dennis.

“He and his friend were also out of a walk and met us.

“I was about 16 at the time and Dennis was 14 or 15.

“We always felt that it was meant to be, there was something there. It really was love at first sight and we were engaged two years later and married at St John’s Church by Reverend Hewan.”

“I proposed during the water,” says Dennis said: “I was in the RAF and had been away with the Airforce for 12 months and we decided to get married.

“There was no big get down on one knee, it was natural progression. We met, we got engaged and the rest is history.

“Our first date was probably another walk.”

The couple still worship at Highbridge Church, with Olive arranging the flowers up until recently.

“I’ve arranged flowers in church for 40 years. I did weddings and other events and Den has been a sides-man for nearly 50 years," Olive said.

She began her working life as a door guide and a lieutenant and made RDX and TNT explosives during the war.

“I saw Highbridge station bombed one night.” Olive adds.

Dennis began his career in gents outfitting and was one of the first members of the ATC when it was formed.

He then joined the RAF, training as aircrew and served in Gibraltar as a radar fitter, finishing his career with 29 years at Moorlands Height footwear manufacturer and as a security guard at Holly Marine.

In their spare time, Olive and Dennis like to grow their own vegetables and plants in the garden.

“We’re very fortunate with our age,” said Olive.

“We manage to do most of our own decorating and our own lawn. I must have planted 200 flower plants in the garden Dennis is a real DIY person and We have a marvellous close and loving family.

“I don’t know how we’d manage without them. We’re lucky they don’t live too far away.”

Olive and Dennis enjoy the support of their family, especially their only son Grahame and their daughter-in-law Pauline. They also have three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Olive said: “Our son Grahame and Pauline has been absolutely wonderful to us over the years.“We waited seven years for a baby and then we lost our daughter at birth, so Grahame is very precious to us.

“Pauline is like the daughter I lost- we have a very close family.

“One of our granddaughters is named Cheryl, after the baby I lost. She’s a tremendous girl.”

The happy couple are celebrating with all the family and children at a party in Bridgwater at the weekend, arranged by Grahame and Pauline, and are also expecting to be blessed at Church on Sunday as they are regular members.

“We only hope and please God that we’re here celebrating on the 9th which is the actual date,” smiles Olive.

“We feel very, very lucky.