New Year's Day marks platinum anniversary for Cookham couple

New Year's Day will mark 70 years of marriage for one Cookham couple.

Jean and Charles Goodwin will mark their platinum anniversary on Sunday after marrying on January 1, 1942.

The Grange Road couple met when Charles, who is originally from Reading, went to Scotland with the Army during the war. Scotswoman Jean met her future husband at a dance and they married in Stirling, Scotland, on New Year's Day so that Charles could return to his Army training course in Glasgow.

Charles had signed up before the war and later served in North Africa with the Highland Division. He was evacuated from Dunkirk in a packed Thames crossing boat during the infamous Second World War battle.

The nonagenarians moved to Pinkneys Green 67 years ago and had three children - Dorothy, 70, of Ellington Park; Bruce, who lives in Scotland and Keith, 61, of Blackamoor Lane.

Then they moved to Cookham 46 years ago and Jean worked in Woolworths for 16 years before working in the Royal Mail sorting office while Charles worked for Mars, in Slough, for 26 years.

Jean's advice for a happy marriage was 'just put up with each other.' "It's all give and take," she added.

And for anyone planning on tying the knot this year, Charles had a few words of wisdom.

"It's a case of sticking to it and make the best of things," he said. "And be sure before you get married."

They will be celebrating their anniversary at a party with some of their large family, including eight grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.