A devoted couple in Deal celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary on Saturday by returning to the spot on Deal seafront where they first met

Jenny and Percy Lawrence, both 88, of Mongeham Road, first met when they were 15. Jenny was walking along the promenade with a friend while Percy was making his way to the Air Training Corps.

Three years later in the same place, Percy proposed. And on Saturday, before a celebratory meal with their friends, they will take the time to drive past the spot on the seafront which means so much to them.

When they met, Jenny worked at the Golden Hind Restaurant in Beach Street and Percy was an aircraft spotter at Thompson’s Brewery in Walmer. After their first encounter their friendship blossomed.

They were married by Canon Tonks in a small family wedding at 2.30pm on November 1, 1944 at St Mary’s Church in Walmer. Afterwards, they enjoyed tea and a cake made by Percy’s mother at Liverpool Cottage in Liverpool Road.

Shortly afterwards, Percy was posted abroad with the RAF, leaving his newlywed for the same amount of time he had known her – three years.

Jenny said: “After the wedding, he had a few days leave and then went back to work. A few days after that he was posted out to the Far East.” Percy said: “I started off in India. We docked in Bombay and went by train to the tip of India, to get to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). There we started getting ready for the invasion of Malaysia. We went down into Singapore but left to go to Japan. I stayed there until I got back here.

“We used to send letters pretty regularly but it depended on where you were and how you were.”

Percy was a leading aircraftsman in 617 Squadron, working with Spitfires, enjoying his work but missing his new wife.

Jenny was new to Deal. Originally from Rotherham in Yorkshire. She had lost both her parents at the age of 14 and so she had come to the town to live with her older sister who was married to a miner.

Now 18, she still didn’t know many people but said she wasn’t lonely because she focused on working and saving money, buying herself a flat in Peter’s Street ready for Percy’s return.

After they had been reunited, Percy was again sent away, this time only a few hours away at an RAF base in the New Forest. It wasn’t long before he was demobbed.

He then started working on the prefabricated houses off Rectory Road, while Jenny worked at Woolworths and later at Haffendens in Sandwich, where she remained for 24 years.

Percy said: “I remember my wage. I was on £12 a week. It was good money and we were fortunate to have one of the prefabs ourselves.” The couple had one daughter, Brenda, who died six years ago. They have one grandson, Philip, 43.

Percy tried his hand at being a milkman but settled as a butcher, starting out at London Central Meat Company in Deal. He then had his own shop in Canterbury called Percy’s Family Butchers which he sold in 1984.

The couple enjoyed dancing at the studio in St George’s Hall. Today, they say they are so lucky to have each other and their health. Jenny enjoys reading and Percy is an avid gardener having picked up the hobby from his father. He recently won the runners-up trophy for Deal in Bloom.

They have already enjoyed a surprise day out with friends on the Wealden Pullman on the Kent and East Sussex Railway to mark the occasion but will be taken on another surprise outing by friends on the day.

They are also eagerly anticipating their third card from the Queen.

They received cards on their 60th and 65th anniversaries and have been told by Buckingham Palace to expect a card by 1pm on the day, sent by signed-for mail.

Jenny said: “After that you get one every year!”

When asked what their secret to a long and successful marriage is, Jenny said: “Work together, look after each other and share everything.” And Percy agreed.