A DURSLEY couple who first met at a bus stop after missing the last bus home are celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary.

Dennis and Renée Tocknell both found themselves stranded at a bus stop in Manchester in 1943, having missed the all-night bus.

Renee had been out dancing and Dennis had been watching a wrestling match.

The pair ended up walking back to their side of the city together, talking all the way.

This was shortly before Dennis, who served as an engineer during the war in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, took part in the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

At that time Renee was working at AVRO, the famous Lancaster bomber aircraft factory.

The two married in Manchester two years later, on April 2, 1946, when Dennis was on his final leave. He was demobbed in 1947.

Struggling to find a home in Manchester when the war was over, the pair travelled down to Dursley - where Dennis had been born and brought up - and they lived briefly with Dennis’ parents before acquiring their own home in 1950 in Tilsdown Close, where they live to this day.

The two had five children - Pat, Keith, Jackie, Michael and Colin. Devastatingly, Colin died at 18 months old.

They have been delighted at the further additions to their family of seven grand children and eight great grand children.

The couple share a passion for Manchester United, and have always done lots of things together, especially through their retirement.

Asked what is the secret to a happy marriage, Dennis said: “Give and take and having fun together is key.”

“Neither of us copes well without the other being around,” he added.

The couple celebrated their anniversary with a special cake, a bouquet of flowers for Renee from Dennis, and cards and presents, including a card from the Queen. They were joined by their children Pat, Keith and Jackie, with Michael tuning in on an iPad, from Stockholm.