Couple toast yearsapart and together (From Penarth Times)

Couple toast yearsapart and together

A PENARTH couple, who did not see each other for three years after getting married, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary yesterday.

Mary Jones, of Salop Place, married Merlyn Edwards of Trecynon at St Augustine's Church on February 8, 1941.

Mary, who was nursing at Hammersmith Hospital during the war, met Merlyn at a dance at the Cymru Fach club in Stockwell, south London.

Merlyn took 78 hours' leave to tie the knot and within a week was sailing back to his regiment in north Africa.

Mary said: "After the wedding I didn't see him for at least three years.

"That's probably why the marriage has lasted so long!

"The wedding reception consisted of a buffet at our family house in Clive Road.

"We are not planning to have a party to celebrate. All we want to do at our age is sleep!"

Merlyn was involved in the allied forces' campaign in Tripoli and also in the battle for Casino in Italy.

Mary's grandfather William Jones was a member of Penarth Town Council before the war.

After the war the couple settled at Glyndwr Road, raising four children.