FRANCIS and Patricia Leeks have been inseparable since they first met in 1948.The couple, who have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and are originally from Barton Tye and Willisham, go everywhere and do everything together.

FRANCIS and Patricia Leeks have been inseparable since they first met in 1948.

The couple, who have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and are originally from Barton Tye and Willisham, go everywhere and do everything together.

They moved to College Road, Framlingham, after they got married.

Patricia was a cook, then worked for 27 years as a cleaner for Framlingham College. Francis, who was with the Royal Engineers during the war, served in Gibraltar and Libya.

He didn't escape unscathed. He suffered mustard gas blisters after being exposed to the toxic chemical, and was involved in terrifying work clearing mines in North Africa. His own best friend was blown up after he came across a booby-trapped mine.

Despite his ordeals, he managed to find happiness with Patricia, and the two went on to have four children, ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

"Without faith in each other, you've nothing," said Francis.

"We just do everything together, play together and love each other," said Patricia. "We plan things together and help each other."

They are active members of the Salvation Army, based at Stowmarket, which hosted a special surprise 'This Is Your Life" celebration on Saturday for the couple.

They met at Barton Tye. Francis was delivering letters for his father, the local postmaster, and he had cycled up to Patricia's sister's, where she was staying.

Francis later ran a building firm based at Stowupland with his brother, before starting up his own firm in Framlingham in 1971.