A WHIRLWIND romance has led to 65 years of marriage for Wootton Bassett couple Cyril and Moira Ponting.

The couple, of Ballards Ash, met in the middle of a Wiltshire field in 1945, when she was a Land Girl and he was on land reclamation work for the Ministry of Agriculture to boost food production.

“We were married within six months,” said Moira, 88, who had served an upholstery apprenticeship in her native Swansea, and is a skilled needlewoman.

“I made the outfits for our wedding – for myself and my bridesmaid, my two other sisters and our mother.”

They married on April 27, 1946 and after the wedding settled at Ballards Ash, Wootton Bassett, where Cyril joined his brother Frank at Folly Farm.

Moira and Cyril had three children during their farming years - Stuart, who now lives in California, Graham, who sadly died suddenly last year and daughter Jill, who calls at their retirement bungalow every day on her way home from work.

Cyril, 91, said the lives of their eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren were of great interest.

“We love to hear about their university studies, their work and travels,” he said.

“They do so much!”

The couple used to enjoy travel, and visited Cyprus five times when their son-in-law was stationed there.

“For our Ruby wedding, twenty five years ago, we had a 13 country tour of Europe, but this time we celebrated with the family, at a barbecue at Jill’s house.

“The weather was wonderful, too,” they said.

“We also enjoy the Gower coast, a favourite place for our family.”

A greetings card from the Queen was a special thrill on the morning of their anniversary.

”That was a lovely surprise,” said Moira.