MARGARET and Sidney Mitchenson are living proof that holiday romances can stay the course - as they prepare to celebrate 70 years of marriage.

The couple from Park Gate will this week be partying with their friends and family to celebrate their milestone platinum wedding anniversary.

Margaret, 91, and Sidney, 92, were first drawn together over their mutual love of sport at the age of 17.

They have endured some tough times but through it all they have stayed strong for each other.

The pair met while they were on a summer trip in Southsea - Margaret down from Richmond staying with a friend and Sidney out on a day trip with the Army.

Then followed a four-year courtship, exchanging hundreds of letters while Sidney served in the Army based in Aldershot and Northern Ireland.

Feeling it was probably time they got married, Margaret and Sidney tied the knot in 1937 but that happiness was soon overshadowed with the start of the war. Sidney was sent to France and then to North Africa where he became a prisoner of war for five years, from 1940 to 1945. But all ended well with Sidney arriving back home safely.

They had two sons and now have four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Margaret said: "Although there have been some very difficult times, we have been very lucky and had a happy life, giving us two sons who we are very proud of.

"It is a job to say what is the secret behind 70 years of happiness but I think I would say it was down to hard work and never arguing about money.

"It was the letters that kept us together in the early years because we had a long courtship. We courted in those days - it wasn't a case of 'back to your flat or mine' like now.

"We decided it was time to get married when Sidney was on leave from Northern Ireland and the rest is history, really."