When Eric and Molly Silvester, of Chippenham, tied the knot 70 years ago they had a lot more to worry about than most couples.

They were married in London at the height of the Blitz and had to prepare themselves for the threat of an air raid during the ceremony.

“It was a bit scary at the time, but luckily for the ceremony there were no warnings,” said 91-year-old Mrs Silvester, of Park Avenue.

“It was clear for about three hours that day so everything went to plan. It was my 21st birthday too, so it was a double celebration for us.”

The couple met in 1937 at a church-run rambling group in Putney, south west London, and had their wedding reception in the church hall. They invited 60 guests to the church ceremony.

“My bridesmaids, who were my cousin and two friends, wore white like me, and my mother made all of our dresses,” she said. “She was a dressmaker and it was just before rationing kicked in.”

After the reception the newlyweds went to Lewes for a six-day honeymoon, where they could hear planes flying overhead. “We would lie in bed and listen to the bombers crossing,” said Mrs Silvester. “And we would say: ‘London’s getting it again’.”

In 1957 they moved west and lived in Corsham and Biddestone before settling in Chippenham. They have two sons, Paul and Timothy, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

“When we first came here our house was on the edge of Chippenham, but now we are more or less in the centre.,” said Mrs Silvester. “They have built so much, and things have really changed.”

Mr Silvester, 94, is a founding member of Chippenham’s rambling club, while his wife helped set up the Hardenhuish Women’s Institute.

They celebrated their platinum anniversary – and Mrs Silvester’s 91st birthday – with friends from St Nicholas Church, the Women’s Institute and Probus.

Mrs Silvester said: “I think people are surprised we have reached 70 years of marriage, but it is down to tolerating each other.

“We are church people and I will always remember a sign that said ‘a couple who pray together stay together’.”