A COUPLE who live in Basingstoke recently celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary.

Jessie, 89, and Arthur Lawton, who live in Basingstoke, celebrated 70 years together on Tuesday, 5 June with their family after having a party beforehand with their friends.

There was cake and trifle at the party, which was held at a regular group for the blind and partially sighted in Basingstoke.

Both originally from Yorkshire, they met in the early 1930s, and began dating.

Arthur, now 93, said: “It just happened, really, we met one day, and from then we started dating, and now it’s been 70 years.”

The pair were briefly apart before their marriage in 1948, as Arthur was stationed in Gibraltar during the Second World War. After the conflict, he returned home and the duo were married in Yorkshire on June 5, 1948.

Arthur added: “We very much take it as it comes.” They moved to Basingstoke in 1956 when Arthur got a job as a bench fitter at what became AWE.

A party to celebrate the pair was held on May 31 at Kempshott Village Hall, which was attended by members of the Open Sight group.

Both of them have attended the group after medical complications 18 years ago.

Arthur added: “We didn’t expect so many people to come, it was a really nice surprise. The group is really good as we get to be with people who are in a similar situation.”

Terry Smith, community development and support manager for Open Sight joined the occasion.

He said: “It’s fantastic that they have been together for so many years, it is a real achievement.

“The group is great, and is well-rooted in Basingstoke, run by volunteers, and gives people with sight loss the opportunity to come together and make friends and enjoy themselves.

“We provide a range of services to help those with sight loss.”

They celebrated their anniversary with a party with many of their six children, nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.