A musical Suffolk couple have celebrated 70 years of loving marriage together with a sing-song.
Rob and Olive Bilbrough, originally from the capital, enjoyed a day of laughter with their family on Wednesday to mark their platinum anniversary in style.
The couple first met in London in 1943, both aged 15 and entering the world of work.
Mr Bilbrough had recently started a job in London, but a book shop in east London caught his eye. Little did he know, that chance encounter on his commute home would lead him to finding the love of his life.
Mr Bilbrough said he was so happy he made the decision to go inside and ask for a job.
He said: "I remember walking into a room and seeing a girl sat at a typewriter with lovely long, black hair.
"I thought, 'wow, I like her' – and it was love at first sight for me."
The two were later forced apart after Mr Bilbrough was called up to serve in Egypt during the Palestine Crisis in the late 1940s – but his beloved "Oli" was there waiting for him on his return.
The pair, 93, later married in 1951, living in Barking, Holland-on-Sea and now in Stowmarket, nearby their daughter Anne.
Between Anne and her brother David, the couple now have six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Many of them are musicians, with the entire family loving an excuse for a song or dance.
Mr Bilbrough said: "Some of our favourite memories are going to watch shows at the theatre together.
"We have always loved playing music together – we would always go and perform in care homes together, I would sing the old songs and Oli would play the keyboard or the accordion.
"We have so many wonderful memories."
It is those 70 years of fun and laughter which have made for the perfect marriage, Mr Bilbrough said.
He added: "I think the secret to a long and happy marriage is love – love and patience.
"There will always be little bumps along the way, but they're just one of those things.
"When we made our vows, we said 'til death do us part' – and that's the way it should be."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here