Devoted duo from Rustington celebrate 70 years of bliss

David and Myra Williams, of Sea Lane, met early in the Second World War, in 1940, after David was struck down with a throat infection, while serving with the RAF.

Little did he know that this fateful affliction would lead him to his wife-to-be Myra, who was his nurse while he was being treated at a hospital in Hull.

On Saturday (April 14), the couple received a letter from the Queen to mark their impressive platinum anniversary.

They were married in Durham, on April 18, 1942, after a whirlwind romance.

David, 92, admitted that he fell head-over-heels in love when he first met Myra, now 90.

He said: “She was beautiful and ever so caring. You never know quite what to expect when you marry someone.

“But Myra was perfect. She is a polar opposite to me – I’m quite excitable and she is fairly reserved. But it’s been a perfect 70 years together and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

After the war, they moved into a flat in Beach Road, Littlehampton, not far from where David grew up as a boy.

In 1950 they had their first and only child, John, before moving to Tennyson Avenue, Rustington, their family home for almost 40 years.

David worked at Soles Paint and Wallpaper Shop, also in Beach Road, for about 32 years, where he later became manager, while Myra stayed at home to look after John.

During this period, David introduced the first Neighbourhood Watch scheme to the town.