A COUPLE have celebrated a rare milestone of 70 years of marriage.

Jim and Hilary Lindsay celebrated their platinum anniversary on Wednesday, October 19 at their home in Stitchell House Hospital of God in Greatham, Hartlepool, and have lived in both the North-East and North Yorkshire.

The couple enjoyed a special lunch and wedding-style cake, and received lots of flowers, gifts and cards, including one from the Queen.

Mrs Lindsay, 93, said: "We have been totally spoilt and I can’t thank the staff in this wonderful home enough.”

Mrs Lindsay was born in Stockton and later moved to Sunderland. During the Second World War she spent five years driving fire tenders towing pumps, during air raids in the city.

Mr Lindsay, 96, was born in Middlesbrough, and joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for seven years, with postings in Italy, North Africa and Malta.

The couple met in 1945 at the Palais de Dance, Stockton and married at St Gabriel's Church, Sunderland on October 19, 1946.

When Bristol Siddely Aero Engines opened a factory in Sunderland, Mr Lindsay got a job and worked on various aircraft engines, including Concord.

The couple enjoyed motorbike trips and became frequent visitors to Gormire Farm, near Sutton Bank, and when they had two children, Verity and Raymond, the family spent all their holidays camping and staying in a farmhouse there.

Mrs Lindsay trained as teacher after raising her family, at Langham Towers, Sunderland, teaching at Broadway Junior School, and continued after a move to Sandhutton, North Yorkshire, taking over the Post Office.

Mr Lindsay became a parish councillor and Mrs Lindsay was the parish clerk, and both volunteered at the James Herriot Museum and Tourist Information Centre in Thirsk.