A COUPLE who were just teenagers when they met on a night out in Worcester during the war will celebrate their diamond wedding tomorrow.

Bob Rees was 17 and had just joined the Army, while his wife Jean was 16 and working in a High Street shoe shop when they paired up for the night at the Milk Bar in Pump Street.

"We were in a gang of soldiers and they were a gang of girls and we just paired off for the night. Four couples kept on seeing each other after that but we were the only ones to get married," said Mr Rees, now aged 82.

He came from Bargoed, Mid-Glamorgan, South Wales, and volunteered for the Army. "It was either that or go down the mine. I thought the Army was the better choice," he said.

Mr Rees was stationed at Norton Barracks for his initial training and it was during those first few weeks that he met Mrs Rees, 80.

After six weeks he was stationed back in South Wales and then sent to France a few days after D-Day, but the pair kept in touch by letter. After the war in Europe finished, Mr Rees volunteered for the war that was still raging in the East.

He knew he would get four weeks' leave and came back to Worcester to see Mrs Rees.

"In that time the Japanese war ended and I thought I had done something clever, but they shipped me out to Egypt, Palestine, Beirut and Damascus," he said.

But Mr Rees said even though he was travelling away from home with the Army, he always knew they would get married, so he sent Mrs Rees a letter with some money telling her to go and buy an engagement ring.

"I think I knew we would marry, but I was still a bit surprised when the letter and the money came," she said.

The couple, who live in Green Lane, off Astwood Road, were married at St Barnabas Church, Worcester.

Mr Rees worked for a number of firms in the city, including a bakery, furniture removers, engineering company and laundry before settling into a job as an electroplater at Worcester Windshields where he stayed for 37 years.

Mrs Rees also worked for local companies before the couple started a family.

They have three children - Sandra, Sue and Colin - and five grandchildren.

They say the secret to their long and happy marriage is helping each other and doing things together.

"The only thing we argue about is football and rugby. I like rugby and she likes football," said Mr Rees.

The couple are celebrating their anniversary with 60 members of their family and friends at Worcestershire County Cricket Club on Saturday.