A COUPLE who grew up just 200 yards from each other have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Ron and Doreen Cawdell celebrated the platinum anniversary at the Lakeside Hotel, Wootton, with friends.

The pair met as children, and lived close to one another in London — but were separated in 1940 when Doreen's family home was damaged in wartime bombing.

Ron, now 91, was reunited with Doreen, 89, when he was in the Royal Navy and, while on weekend leave, went to a dance hall and saw her there.

The following year, in 1948, they were engaged, and the year after they married.

They had a dramatic start to married life — just two hours after the wedding ceremony, Doreen was rushed to hospital to have her appendix removed.

After Ron's naval career, the couple moved to the Isle of Wight in 1957 and ran a guest house, then a hotel and a care home.

Ron served on the Sandown and Shanklin Urban District Council and the Isle of Wight County Council.

He also founded the Vectis National Party for Isle of Wight independence and stood as parliamentary candidate for the party in the 1970 General Election.

Retiring to their Wootton home on Ashlake Farm Lane, the couple have been active in the residents' association, which looks after the lane and runs social events throughout the year.

The couple enjoy cruise holidays and will be setting off on a cruise around the Mediterranean this month to mark their big anniversary.

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