THIS happy couple have far outreached the "gold and silver" stage of their marriage, and today they were marking a rare anniversary - 70 years.

Acomb couple Douglas and Winifred Clarke have still got smiles on their faces as they prepare to celebrate their platinum wedding with a party at a York hotel for their large extended family tomorrow.

Douglas, 92, met Win, as she likes to be known, in 1927, when he was a patient in an Army hospital in Aldershot. Win, now 88, visited a friend in the same ward regularly and the pair got chatting.

They married in Aldershot in 1931, and moved to York in 1941 when Douglas had to leave the Army after 18 years' service due to injury.

His military experiences included taking part in the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

The pair spent the rest of their working lives as stewards in various working men's clubs around the city. Douglas only completely retired when he turned 80.

Amazingly, the couple's four children - Don, John, Derek and June - are all old age pensioners.

Douglas said: "It's funny when we tell people that our children are all pensioners themselves!"

The couple are keen bowlers at Thanet Road Indoor Bowling Club.

Douglas said: "The secret to our long and happy marriage is liking one another.

"We've always got on well and never been apart except during the war years.

"It's been hard work, but definitely worth it.

"We have a lot of love for one another."

Updated: 11:00 Saturday, June 30, 2001