Platinum anniversary for Kathleen and Arthur

Kathleen and Arthur Bentley, of Jasmine Way, have their platinum wedding anniversary today - Friday January 8 - but enjoyed a party on Sunday which had their daughter Linda fly in from Spain as well as family members who live in Las Vegas.

Linda organised a three tier cake for them to make up for the wedding cake they were not able to have when they tied the knot in 1940.

Arthur is now 93 and Kathleen is 91, and they have two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Arthur commented: "We claim no special skills - we haven't passed our masters' degree or anything, all we did was get married and maintain the vows we made to each other. We don't regard that as being especially clever...it's just being tolerant. Never take your problems to bed, but resolve your problems before the day is out. The big word is tolerance...when people say they have been living happily for X number of years, I frankly don't believe it because life is about ups and downs. If there is any skill in this it is the ability to view the problem and deal with it. I think it is about maintaining those vows you made to one another and not deviating."

He said of the party: "Everybody seemed to have a good time, then we all came home and went to bed."

The couple have already received a card of congratulations from the Queen to mark the anniversary.

Friend and neighbour Carole Bargh said: "They are fabulous - they are a very lovely couple, and absolutely amazing."