A COUPLE who were split up for ten months shortly after their wedding are celebrating 65 years of marriage tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15.

Cyril Scott had enjoyed his National Service so much that he signed up to the Fleet Air Arm – meaning he only had two weeks with his new bride, Dena, before heading to Korea.

The couple, of Alstone Close, Taunton, had walked down the aisle at St James Church on St Swithin’s Day, July 15, 1950.

“It was raining, which is supposed to mean rain for the next 40 days,” said Cyril, now 87. “But fortunately that wasn’t so.”

He met Dena, now 85, at a fellowship meeting at St James, where he was a choirboy.

On leaving the Fleet Air Arm, Cyril worked for the Admiralty at the Hydrographic Department, in Taunton and, for a time, in Portsmouth, rising to mapping and charging officer by the time he retired 20 years later.

Dena, who worked in the education department at County Hall and later as a secretary at Musgrove Park Hospital, is a former secretary of Taunton Townswomen’s Guild and a member of St Andrews Ladies Group.

Cyril used to sing with the Rivertones Barbershop and the couple worship at St Andrews Church.

They have two daughters, two granddaughters, two grandsons and two great granddaughters.

“Life’s been good to us and we have happy memories every time we drive past St James Church,” said Cyril.