WARTIME rations and short notice played their part in the wedding of Maureen and Stuart Grimley, who mark 70 years since they tied the knot today.

The platinum couple, from Fairfield, will toast seven decades of marriage with a family party this afternoon, and Stuart, 89, said the time with his beloved wife had flown by.

“It doesn’t feel like 70 years, it’s amazing that we’ve made it this far. But you just get on with it,” he said.

The happy couple first saw their romance blossom at age 16, during a weekly Friday night dance in their native Devizes.

Stuart wooed Maureen away from her dance partner and the couple tied the knot four years later on June 30, 1945, at a church in Southsea.

Maureen, 90, was given just 24 hours' notice that she would wed Stuart, who managed to get a few days break from his duties in the Royal Navy.

Given the war-time conditions Maureen said the wedding was pared back compared to today’s lavish standards.

She said: “Everything was rationed from the cake to the dress. People wouldn’t dream of sorting a wedding dress out the day before nowadays. We made it work though.

“It was a wonderful day and I was so proud to be marrying Stuart. I didn’t get stressed back then about organising everything because that’s just the way it was back then. It was a great day.”

After a week-long honeymoon, the couple were separated for a year, due to Stuart’s commitments in the Navy.

Honeymoon baby Sue arrived nine months later but due to the conflict, doting dad Stuart didn’t meet his first-born until she was three months old.

He only found out he was a father when he received a union telephone call while he was on assignment in 1946.

“I was playing a football match in Singapore when I got the call. All the lads celebrated with some rum,” he said.

Maureen quipped: “He wasn’t that into babies then so he was pretty relaxed about her.”

The couple, who have lived in Swindon for more than 60 years, have come a long way since their 1946 nuptials. Their three children - Sue, David and Brian - were born in Swindon and they now share eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Due to health complications, Maureen now lives at the Fitzwarren house sheltered complex, with devoted husband Stuart visiting every day.

Stuart said compromise was key when it comes to a long-standing marriage.

“I don’t think anyone can give anyone advice these days on what’s best for them nowadays," he said.

"In our day you just got on with it and we honestly didn’t have any problems. There was give and take on both sides.

“We’ve never really had any arguments, you just get over things quickly and there’s nothing worth holding a grudge over, we’re a good team.”