A couple who met in a munitions factory during the war are celebrating their platinum wedding anniversary.

Jill and Bob Cobden married in St Leonards 70 years ago yesterday and have lived in East Sussex ever since.

The couple, from Seaford, enjoyed a joint celebration yesterday, with Jill’s 90th birthday falling on the same day. Bob will celebrate his 90th birthday tomorrow.

The devoted Argus readers met while making munitions at Harvey’s factory in Charlton, London. Jill was still making bombs on the day of the wedding, by which time Bob was training as an RAF pilot. He spent the final months of the Second World War in South Africa, flying Lancasters.

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After demobbing from the RAF, Bob joined Southern Railway in Newhaven as a shunter and the couple started married life proper.

They lived in Claremont Road and later Beach Road, where they had four sons, Dave, Rob, Ray and Alan, all of whom still live in Sussex.

The couple helped to build the social centre – later the venue for their ruby wedding anniversary.

Jill worked at the Waterguard offices and helped to make fancy dress costumes for annual carnivals.

In 1963 the last train ran over the swing bridge and Bob joined Cresta Marine, building many of the pontoons that adorn Sleepers Hole, now Newhaven Marina.

In 1968 he joined construction firmJames Longley, where he worked on landmarks including Sussex University at Falmer, Lancing College Chapel and St Dunstan’s at Ovingdean, where he met the Queen.

They retired in 1989 and moved back to Seaford in 2004, where they have lived happily ever since. Bob still enjoys going to the Shoreham Airshow and taking pictures on his digital SLR camera.

The couple have seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Son Alan, 59, of Burgess Hill, said: “Seventy years of marriage is an awesome achievement.

I don’t think they could ever think about being apart.”