ONE look at Bill and Elizabeth Cronin tells you they are still as much in love as ever.Although they are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary they still have a wicked sense of humour and a zest for life, as well as each other.

ONE look at Bill and Elizabeth Cronin tells you they are still as much in love as ever.

Although they are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary they still have a wicked sense of humour and a zest for life, as well as each other.

Elizabeth, 89, said: “I didn't work when we first got married and I did all the tasks women did at that time like looking after the family.

“In fact Bill made his first cup of tea a year ago because I was ill.

“I think this attitude has been helpful and one of the reasons we've gone on this long, even though I know it seems old-fashioned now.”

But despite some of their traditional beliefs the couple, who are originally from County Cork in Ireland, have always had their own individual style.

Elizabeth even wore a blue dress and hat down the aisle on her wedding day on February 22, 1936, while Bill wore a matching navy suit.

The Cronins first met on a dance floor in Ireland and Elizabeth said she was immediately attracted by Bill, who was a champion cross-country runner.

Bill, 92, said: “I wasn't much of a dancer but it was love at first sight. I was from the city and it was good to meet a nice country girl.”

After they got married Bill and Elizabeth were parted during Second World War when Bill was working in London.

Elizabeth recalled how he used to call home and say “I have to go - there's a bomb coming”.

In 1957 they moved to Britain permanently, and eventually settled in Woolverstone, but retained their Irish links by drinking pints of Guinness in pubs and regularly visiting the church they got married in.

Bill and Elizabeth, who live in the Oak House residential home in Stutton, will be celebrating their amazing achievement by having their family round for a party tonight.

And like many Irish families it is very large, with seven children, 21 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Bill admitted: “We have such a large family now that it's hard to get to know everyone, but we are lucky that we always have each other, our first loves, which is the most important thing.”

Do you have a story of true love? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or send us an email at eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

The 70th wedding anniversary is known as the platinum anniversary.

Other events in 1936

Edward VIII abdicated as King after falling in love with the married American Wallis Simpson.

Germany hosted the Olympic Games and Hitler used the opportunity to show off Nazi power.

The Crystal Palace in London, built in 1851 for the Great Exhibition, was destroyed by a fire.

The Hoover Dam on the Colorado River in America was completed two years ahead of schedule.

Brit actor Albert Finney and American singer Buddy Holly were born.

Author Rudyard Kipling died.