'We've been happy now for 70 years'

Charles and Rene Musgrove, of Haxby, near York, were celebrating their platinum wedding anniversary today.

The couple first met as teenagers when they went to work at York's famous chocolate factory after leaving school.

Rene, who is originally from Tadcaster, went to work there at the age of 14.

It was there she met 15-year-old Charles Musgrove, who had left school in York a year earlier.

The couple married three years later at St Mary's Church, in Tadcaster, on February 15, 1936.

Later that year, Rene gave birth to Pauline, their only child, who was to grow up to become York's first Olympic swimmer.

Pauline swam in the 100 metres backstroke event in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, and was the youngest-ever competitor at the time.

The Evening Press ran a fundraising appeal to raise £200 so that Charles and Rene could go to Helsinki with their daughter.

The appeal was a huge success, raising more than £300. The extra money was used to send Pauline's coach, Lonz Webster, out to Helsinki with the family.

More than a decade earlier, in 1940, Charles had been called up for war service, and he joined the Eighth Army as an observation officer's assistant.

They were deployed to Iraq and Persia to secure British oil supplies.

He continued: "We used to pick out targets for the regiment's 24 guns to fire at.

"We'd look with our glasses from the observation point and decide on the range and direction.

"Then we'd let out a salvo and retrain the guns if we were off target."

Pauline later had children of her own, Karen and Kevin, and Charles and Rene now have four great grandchildren; Toby, Edward, Chloe and Cameron.

Charles stayed at Rowntrees throughout his working life, retiring in 1980.

Rene also stayed at Rowntrees, although she took time off to look after Pauline.

She said: "We've been quite happy - you have your ups and your downs like everyone, but it's been a very good marriage. We've been very fortunate."

Updated: 10:16 Wednesday, February 15, 2006