A COUPLE whose eyes first met across a crowded dance floor have both a diamond wedding and a milestone birthday to celebrate today.

Bill and Gwen Lowe, of Drake Avenue, Dines Green, tied the knot in Bristol on June 7, 1941 - Bill's 30th birthday.

The pair first met at a dance evening, but it was only when Gwen recognised Bill, who turns 90 today, at work that they decided to get together.

Like most couples courting in the 1940s, the war was to shape a major part of their lives.

They both worked at the Bristol Aeroplane Company - Bill was an engine fitter and Gwen was a secretary while working under the war's Essential Works Act.

Gwen, 82, remembered vividly the tin hats they had to wear and the gas masks she had to carry around with her during work-time.

It was hard labour and long hours, the two completing 12 hours' work a day for seven days a week.

The war nearly ended any hopes of the young couple's romance when Bill, on casualty work, avoided a bomb blast in a daytime raid.

The incident saw three of his work colleagues die but, luckily, Bill suffered only bomb splinter wounds to his hand.

Rations were still in place at the time of the wedding reception, so the celebrations were not as lavish as they would have liked.

Although the two had to have an artificial wedding cake it did not put a dampener on the celebrations.

"We had a ham salad for starters and strawberries and cream to finish - we'd not seen that fruit for years," said Gwen.

After the war they settled in Worcester, managing former city pubs The Duke of York, The Imperial Hotel and Saint George's Tavern. The couple moved out of the pub trade when their two daughters became older.

The couple, who both love musicals, do not know if their daughters have any anniversary surprises lined up, but they celebrated their golden wedding by seeing the Phantom of the Opera. They have five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.