Emsworth couple celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary

And now 70 years later, the Emsworth couple are celebrating their platinum wedding.

Joan, 91, says: ‘I was from Southsea but Rob was from Bedhampton.

‘When he came back from the RAF, he joined the family firm called Arthur Coomer who were cardboard box makers. I was already working there and then we met for the second time in the office.’

Rob’s great-grandfather, Charles Coomer started the business in Bristol and they moved to Richmond Place, Portsea, and Arthur Coomer was Rob’s grandfather. Rob was a flight lieutenant in the RAF in India and came back to join Arthur Coomer’s after the war.

Joan was then introduced to Rob again as ‘the boss’s nephew’ at the factory and the couple had to share a desk for a while because the premises had been so badly damaged by bombing.

Joan explains: ‘He asked me to marry him in December 1949. We got married on July 22, 1950, at St Simon’s Church, Southsea.

‘Our reception was at the Queens Hotel, Southsea. We were going to have a family celebration there at the end of the month but that has unfortunately been cancelled. Instead five of us will be going to a nice pub for a meal.

‘We had our honeymoon in Ilfracombe. It was a bit before honeymoons were a thing.’

After their wedding, the couple moved to Bedhampton. Rob, now 95, carried on working at the family firm while Joan brought up their three children, Adele, Gail and Ian.

Now the Hiscutts have four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Joan adds: ‘They all live quite far away but we’re really looking forward to seeing them when we can.

‘We’re very excited for our celebration too.’