A COUPLE from Bournemouth have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary after a relative said that the marriage wouldn't last.

Frank and Vera Tubbs, who live at St Bridget's Care Home, on East Avenue, enjoyed a party with their fellow residents and staff to celebrate seven decades together on Tuesday, November 24.

The couple say that they have known each other all their lives after living less than a mile apart and were married aged 19 and 20.

Vera, who was born with the first name Blanch, 89, said: "My aunty said that we were too young to get married and it wouldn't last."

Husband, Frank, who was born with the first name Clifford, 91, added: "She died before we could show her that she was wrong.

"We used to go to Woodlands Methodist Church and met as a couple together aged 15 and 16."

The couple said that they wanted to get married as they had found a house in Woodlands that they wanted to move into. On their wedding day, Frank remembers that it was cold and raining in the morning but foggy in the afternoon. Afterwards the newlyweds took a trip to Winton which acted as a honeymoon for the newlyweds before moving into the bungalow where they lived for 18 years.

They then moved to Stapehill where they lived until 1976 and have lived in the Winton area ever since. The couple have three children, Terrence, Rachael and Shirley, three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Asked to describe his wife, Frank said: "She's always been thoughtful, hardworking and has looked after our finances and kept us out of debt. The only money we ever borrowed was £800 for the mortgage and it took us 18 years to pay that off." Meanwhile, Vera described husband as 'upright and quiet living.'

She added: "We consider ourselves very fortunate." Vera went on to say that her best advice for modern couples looking to get married is that 'You've got to spend time getting to know one-another before you get married."

Frank added: "Sometimes you have to give way. We're not always in agreement but you've got to get over that."

The couple used to enjoy attending organ concerts at the Pavilion in Bournemouth and Christchurch Priory. They now like playing cards, joining in with chair-based exercise classes, quizzes and do not watch much TV but make an exception for Emmerdale.