BOMBED out of London at the tender age of 16, Elsie Bolt never thought her flight to Ipswich would result in a 60 year long marriage. Despite meeting husband to be Ernie Lacey in a difficult time of war, the couple who have lived in Ipswich for the last 62 years recently celebrated their diamond wedding.

BOMBED out of London at the tender age of 16, Elsie Bolt never thought her flight to Ipswich would result in a 60 year long marriage.

Despite meeting husband-to-be, Ernie Lacey, in a difficult time of war, the couple who have lived in Ipswich for the last 62 years recently celebrated their diamond wedding.

During the war, Elsie, now 78, worked at the telephone exchange in Ipswich, while her husband-to-be served in the RAF.

Ernie was posted to Nacton in 1941, and it was only a matter of time before the couple met at a dance at Crane's Sport Club just a month later.

The pair, from Chesterfield Drive, were married on July 8th 1942 in St Pancras church and during the first few years of their marriage Ernie continued to serve his country in the war effort, even taking part in the Normandy invasion.

Elsie stopped working after the birth of their first son in 1946, preferring instead to make her now large family her first priority.

The couple are the proud parents of Peter, 56, Stuart, 52, and Robert, 37, and now they have eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Since Ernie's retirement from Churchman's cigarette factory in Ipswich, 22 years ago, the couple have enjoyed their hobby of walking, covering much of the Suffolk countryside on their rambles.

Elsie and Ernie, 82, celebrated their anniversary with a family dinner at Pittsford in Needham Market, and then opened their home to friends and family who wished to celebrate with the happy couple.

When asked the secret of a long and happy marriage, Elsie confidently said: "tolerance, patience and a good faith".