A COUPLE from Thornbury who first met during the Second World War have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Ted and Molly Richardson, 94 and 91 respectively, met after Ted volunteered to accompany Molly to a pantomime performance in London in 1943.

They married on May 19, 1945 and following spells working for a produce company in London, Kent and Mortlake, they moved to Mangotsfield after Ted was asked to run the firm’s Bristol office in 1957.

Following the advent of supermarkets the business started to struggle and eventually shut down its Bristol branch, inviting Ted to return to London in 1971.

They explained, however, that this was not feasible as their family was settled in the West Country.

“Our children had recently got married or were close to that point and we were really settled here, so moving back wasn’t an option.”

Instead the pair took over a pub in Bath, The Talbot, turning it into one of the most popular pubs in the region.

“When we first took over the pub what I noticed was that there were no women there,” Ted said.

“I decided to ban swearing there and anyone who did I kicked out and that changed the pub and made it a very pleasant place to be.

“We had nine skittles teams and three darts teams who used the pub and that really helped us, particularly through the winter months.”

Molly added: “We made it into a good pub."

In the 12 years they ran the pub, before retiring, it was transformed into a well-loved community asset and sales soared.

They then moved to Thornbury where they have lived for the last 23 years.

Now at Beech House care home in the town, the couple were joined by their three children and three grandchildren and countless other friends and families to mark their platinum anniversary.

Asked what the secret to such a long and happy marriage was they said that it was “all about give and take”.

Ted added: “We are very happy together, we get on very well. I haven’t got a clue what the secret is, though."