A NEWPORT couple, who were childhood sweethearts, have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Edna and Clarry Davies, both 91, marked 70 years of marriage yesterday.

The couple were married at St Woolos Cathedral on October 21 1944, three days later than planned because Mr Davies was late arriving home from the Army.

“Our wedding was simple, most of what we had was borrowed, but we’ve made it and that’s the main thing,” said Mrs Davies.

Mr and Mrs Davies, who lived a few doors away from each other in Maindee Parade, have known each other since the first year of primary school, when Mr Davies was told off for talking to his then future wife during a lesson.

Mr Davies joined the Army when he was 15 while Mrs Davies worked in a restaurant. Mrs Davies said: “He wrote to me every day in the Army. After he lost his parents, I became the anchor for his life and it has been that way ever since.”

Mrs Davies then gave up work after they married and the pair went on to have four children, three girls and one boy, and now have 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Nearly three years ago, Mr Davies, who is a past president of the Newport British Legion and remains life vice president, moved into Summer Hill Nursing Home, Newport, and Mrs Davies now lives at Avalon Court.

Mrs Davies said the secret behind their long and happy marriage is that they are “there for each other and support each other”.