YOUNG greengrocer’s assistant Herbert Barks made sure he was outside his shop at Swaythling every time a certain young lady cycled by to work - and it was not long before love blossomed.

Now, 80 years on, Bert and Marion celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary yesterday.

The couple met in 1938 and were married five years later at St Mary’s Church, Eling while Bert was on leave from the Royal Air Force, where he served as a Leading Aircraftman during the Second World War.

At that time Marion, now aged 94, worked in the wages office of Cuncliffe-Owen Aircraft Limited.

Marion, nee Cox, said: “He was always outside his shop to say good morning to me and one day I was out with a group of friends and he made a beeline for me.

“We went out on a date and got together because we just seemed right for each other. Sometimes things just click.”

After a spell living in Southampton they moved to Totton and Bert went on to work for Esso for 34 years.

They have three children – Linda, Cherene and Christine, 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren aged between one-and-a-half and 22.

Bert and Marion now live at Marchwood and tend a third-of-an-acre garden daily but dancing has been the key to the couple’s agility and fitness. Marion started when she was in her early 30s but it was almost another 40 years before her husband, then aged 69, followed in her footsteps.

“Because we had a family Bert could not come dancing when I started but when he retired I asked him if he would like to come and he has never looked back, said Marion who dances all styles, including ballroom Latin-American, jive and many more.

They have been avid Daily Echo readers all their married life and have received a card from the Queen every five years from their 50th anniversary and one each year from their 70th.

“I think this year’s might be a little bit special,” added Marion.

A big family party is planned to celebrate the milestone.