Tony and Jean Simons

CHIPPENHAM couple Tony and Jean Simons will celebrate for their 70th wedding anniversary on March 19, having first met each other at a dance in 1946.

“It doesn’t seem like 70 years and I don’t think you even think about it when you get married,” said Mrs Simons, aged 89.

“I think you have got to have a sense of humour.

“We went to the same school, Calne County School which is now The John Bentley, he was a prefect but I’d never met him.

“I went to an old time dance but my friends weren’t there who I usually went with but I sat down and he came over.”

Mr Simons was sent to work at the Royal Aircraft Establishment during the war and Mrs Simons worked for the Ministry of Food before they married, which they did at St Mary's Church, Calne, on March 19, 1947.

Mrs Simons wore a blue dress because "we did an awful lot of dancing and clothes at that time were still on coupons so I thought I could use it for dancing".

The couple moved to London Road in Chippenham shortly after and had two sons, David, who was born in 1949 and Martin, who was born in 1952.

As well as two sons, the couple also now have three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

While Mrs Simons looked after their children, Mr Simons founded his own engineering company, HS Simons, which ran for almost 50 years before it was closed in 1997.

The couple’s biggest hobby was taking part in veteran car rallies, including the London to Brighton rally 21 times.

“I was in a situation where I could restore them and we did make a lot of friends and have lots of weekends away,” said Mr Simons, aged 92.

The couple, who now live at Castle Lodge, will celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary with a family meal on Saturday.