NOT only did Ted and Joan Davies receive a card from the Queen for their Platinum wedding anniversary, the Hale Barns couple also got a letter from the Governor of Bermuda.

In it, George Fergusson, married for 38 years, wrote that the Davies’, married for 70 years, would have had twice the fun.

It was arranged by their grandson who lives there.

On July 25, one of their four children, Joanna Stafford, and her husband, Alan, hosted a champagne afternoon tea at their Manchester home.

The couple’s two sons and two daughters, five grandchildren and one of their four great grandchildren were there.

Ted and Joan met at St Margaret’s Church, Altrincham, when teenagers, and married there on July 23, 1945.

Ted, 92, joked: “We got to know each other in the air raid shelter opposite the church.”

They kept in touch by letter during the war when Ted served in the Royal Navy taking part in the sinking of the German battle ship, Scharnhorst in 1943.

From the age of 15, he worked as a junior clerk at solicitors Nicholls, Lindsell and Harris.

In 1945 after attending an emergency course for teachers, he taught at Baguley Hall school, ending up as Deputy Area Principal for Further Education in South Manchester.

Joan, 91, worked part-time at Styal Prison teaching needlework and dress making to the inmates.

“It was very rewarding,” she said. “They were grateful to see people from outside.”

They have lived in Hale Barns for 45 years.

Joan’s secret of a happy marriage is “give and take.” And Ted’s:“Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.”