CONGRATULATIONS to Paul and Betty Larsen, of Paulfryn, St. Brides Lane, Saundersfoot, who celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary on Saturday.

A large gathering of family and friends met at the village's Gower Hotel, where they enjoyed a buffet lunch and a few glasses of champagne to celebrate 70 years of marriage for the well-known couple.

The couple met back in 1935 when Betty visited Saundersfoot on holiday from her home in Sussex. Paul, a native of Newport, had moved to the village when he was 11-years-old, when his father, who worked as a postman, was transferred to the area.

The couple were married at St. Peter's Church in Cowfold, Sussex, going on to make their home at Rushy Lake, Saundersfoot, and thereafter at Woodside, opposite the St. Bride's Hotel. They built their current home in 1952.

During his early working life, Paul was employed as an electrician and foreman at St. Bride's Garage, while during the Second World War, he served with the REME in Germany, before being transferred to Tenby and becoming a staff sergeant.

When he was demobbed in 1946, he returned to work at St. Bride's Garage. Many locals will remember Betty during her time running the Holiday Shop at Beddoes Court, before going on to operate a B and B business in St. Bride's Lane.

The couple have four children - Andrea, Judith, Jonathan and Jeremy; nine grandchildren - Catherine and Susanna, Tim and Christopher, Mathew and Andrew, Cheryl, Karen and Richard, who are twins.

They also have seven great-grandchildren - Chloe, Adrienne and Hannah, Ryan and Holly, Daniella and Shawnee.

As well as receiving a plethora of greetings cards, the couple also received a telegram from Her Majesty The Queen offering them best wishes. September always proves a time of great celebration in the Larsen household, as Paul also celebrated his birthday on Sunday, while Betty has hers at the end of the month.