Alan Thompson A WINTERTON couple have put their 70-year marriage down to not going to sleep after an argument without making up first.Staunch Christians Robbie and Joyce Woodhouse celebrated their Platinum anniversary on Saturday with a special service at the village's parish church.

Alan Thompson

A WINTERTON couple have put their 70-year marriage down to not going to sleep after an argument without making up first.

Staunch Christians Robbie and Joyce Woodhouse celebrated their Platinum anniversary on Saturday with a special service at the village's parish church.

This was followed by a lunch at the Fisherman's Return surrounded by flowers and cards, including one from the Queen. And the celebration was made even more special was a special with family flying in Pennsylvania in the USA.

The couple, who are both 91 years old, married at the church on January 31, 1939.

Robbie has spent all of his life in the village and Joyce for most of her life, except for an 11-year spell when her family moved to Great Yarmouth.

Joyce recalled their wedding day: “There had been a hard frost. I wore a dress but on that day, but I didn't feel the cold. We married at the church and had a reception for the family at my mum's house afterwards. She had a large spare room and we were able to use that.”

The couple had known each other since they were 14 years old, but had only “got serious” when they were 16.

Both were working at the time they married, Joyce making fishing nets and Robbie, who came from a fishing family was the first one not to go to sea, instead he worked at the local butchers.

Robbie was called up to serve in the army at the outbreak of the second world war the same year, but before he saw the birth of the couple's first daughter.

Robbie said: “I joined the army at the outbreak of war and was eventually promoted to the dizzy height of corporal. But it did give me a chance to some more of the world.”

He was posted to Egypt and later served in Burma, only managing to get back home on one occasion.

When he was demobbed, Robbie returned to the butchery business, went on to a local brick making company and finally to the family fish and chip shop in the village.

Both Robbie and Joyce were caretakers at their old school, Winterton Primary School, for 20 years.

They have five children, 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Robbie has been a churchwarden and captain of the bell tower at the parish church and both he and Joyce are still committed Christians. And Joyce enjoys reading and making clothes for dolls which are sold by a friend on the internet.

Their recipe of a long and happy marriage is to never go to sleep of a night without making up after an argument.