WHEN Tom and Freda Raine were married, England was at war with Germany and Winston Churchill was Prime Minister.

March 15, 1941, had been a blowy spring day and the happy couple had been courting for four years.

Today, they are both in their 90s and celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary.

But they can both remember tying the knot at Craghead Methodist Church, near Stanley in County Durham all those years ago.

Mrs Raine, 94, said: “I remember in the morning I had to go to the hairdressers. We were married at 2pm. It was a bit breezy, otherwise it was a good day.”

Mr Raine, met his future bridge through the Salvation Army when he was a 19-year-old coal miner and she was 15.

He had been a brass musician and she was part of the choir.

They started going out, but it involved a ten mile uphill hike from his house in Sherburn Hill, near Durham, to hers at Craghead.

Mr Raine, 98, said: “We were married during the war and had two children during the war.

“There was soup kitchens and coupons and all sorts. They were hard times.

“You must love that person in all circumstances and share each other. If Freda had something worrying her I would want to know. If I had something worrying me she had to know, so you share everything in your life.

"That has been the way for us.”

They now live in an apartment at Maple Court in Delves Lane, Consett, and their family held a surprise party for them there on Saturday.

Mr Raine said: “It has been lovely being married so long. I wouldn’t part with her. I would do it again. We have had to work had together. We have had to share everything.

“In a marriage you have got to love a person, you have to share things together and understand each other. If you have got that you pull through.”

They have one son, Melvyn, and two daughters, Kathleen and Alma, six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Alma said: “They have been an inspiration to us all throughout the years. Congratulations mam and dad on this special day. We all love you so much.”