AN ISLE of Wight couple is celebrating an incredible milestone this month – their 70th wedding anniversary.  

Beryl, 89 and Bern Hobbs, 91, tied the knot on April 3, 1954.

Bern was born in Barton village and studied at Barton School, while Beryl, whose maiden name is Knight, was born on Forest Road, next to where Forest View Nursery is now and studied at Cowes Secondary Modern.

The Newport couple's first date was on carnival night, in 1951.

In November of that year, Bern did his national service and was sent to Libya.

The pair stayed in touch until his return.

In January 1953, Bern was sent to Canvey Island to help in the aftermath of the North Sea floods, and he was demobbed just before The Queen’s Coronation, in 1953.

The pair became engaged that very same year – in the summer – and married on April 3, 1954, at St John’s Church, Newport.

Beryl went on to work as a clerk and Bern worked on boats on the River Medina, then BRS, and was a lorry driver for the rest of his working life.

In 1968, Beryl opened Hellerslea Fabrics and while she is now retired, the Newport business is still going strong.

The pair have three children - Carol, Barry and Linda.

They had planned to celebrate their anniversary with an afternoon tea, and when asked what the secret was to a long and happy marriage, Beryl said: “Tenacity!”