65 years for Frederick and Ruth

She was in the Volunteer Aid Detachment of the Red Cross working with the Royal Navy, and he was a lieutenant with the Czech Army who arrived in England after Dunkirk.

They dated for a few months then married in Norwich on February 27 1943 - now Ruth and Frederick Tintner are celebrating 65 years of marriage.

They both agree the time as flown by... "Sixty-five is just a drop in eternity," said Frederick, who is 95, while Ruth, 85, added "It is just the opening and shutting of an eye..."

They are not sure what symbolises the 65th anniversary, but Frederick said: "We are working towards platinum...which is 70 years."

Ruth commented: "We have an enormous family. Our two daughters between them had five children, and of course they have all grown up and married. To make a long story short, we have got eight grand children, and eight great-grandchildren, and another one in June."

Their older daughter Ruth lives in Cumbria - she contacted the Observer to describe her parents as "remarkable people".

Ruth said: "Bettine was, and is, our dearly loved younger daughter and sadly missed since she died four years ago. She will always be a part of our family."

Brought together by the war, it was some time before they lived together as a couple - Frederick was sent out to Russia in 1944 to fight then spent six months in hospital while Ruth stayed with her family in Norwich looking after her baby daughter.

With peace came the chance to be a family, so Ruth went out to Czechoslovakia for a few months until Frederick decided that it was safer for her to return to England because of the growing Russian presence in his homeland.

He arrived in England himself at Christmas 1946 and they settled in Denham, Buckinghamshire, where they brought up their two daughters. Frederick worked in various jobs in London, mainly in import and export, specialising in ceramics, porcelain and glass and based in Golden Square, near Piccadilly.

They retired to Bexhill in 1984, and live in Bicton Gardens.