Love at first sight leads to platinum occasion

And not only did the then teenager end up wedding the object of his affections, but the pair, who now live at River Meadows care home in Kineton, have now been married for 70 years.

The 93-year-old and his wife Sarah, 91, were joined yesterday (Thursday) by family and friends for an afternoon tea to mark their platinum wedding anniversary.

A working mechanic at the age of 14, Mr Campbell mended the bicycle belonging to the then 12-year-old girl, and things blossomed from there.

Soon after their wedding in Dublin, where they both lived, on August 4 1941, he was commissioned to the Far East with the navy, while Mrs Campbell spent time working in munitions and jam factories.

The couple lived in Fulham and Essex for 40 years, where Mr Campbell worked his way up from the factory floor of an animal feed company to becoming the mill manager and later, after being made redundant, found work as a security guard at the Bank of England printing works.

Meanwhile Mrs Campbell devoted her time to looking after her three daughters, although she also occasionally did jobs as a dinner lady, home help and cleaner.

On retirement the pair, who are both devout Roman Catholics, returned to Dublin for a short period, before settling in Hampton Magna in 2000 to be close to their daughters Patricia and Teresa, who sadly died in 2004. Their other daughter Ann lives in Sweden and comes to see her parents at the Kineton home, where they have lived for three years, every alternate month.

Although both Mr and Mrs Campbell have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the couple continue to enjoy regular family gatherings with their daughters, three grandchildren and two great-granchildren.

Ann said: “When they met, Dad said straight away that she was the girl he was going to marry. They are made for each other and have only been apart during the war.”

Patricia added: “They were very sociable - typically Irish.”

Their Irish heritage meant the couple were unable to receive a telegram from the Queen - although they did receive a letter of congratulations from Her Majesty to mark their special day.