65th wedding anniversary for Thatcham couple

A Second World War veteran and his French flower said the key to a long marriage was give and take

A COUPLE who moved to Thatcham six years ago celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary yesterday (Wednesday).

Tom and Francine Hawkins, aged 89 and 84, of Rosedale Gardens, married on March 23, 1946.

The pair met in 1944 in France when Mr Hawkins was in the Royal Air Force.

He was making his way to Lyon, from Italy, to join his unit after he had to spend a few weeks in hospital.

The people of Lyon were celebrating the country's liberation from German occupation and the end of their curfew, and it was there that he met French-born Francine while she was out with her mother.

Mrs Hawkins said: “That was his lucky day.”

Before marrying, when Mr Hawkins was aged 25 and his bride-to-be was aged 20, they encountered some difficulties, as Mr Hawkins approached his commanding officer for permission to marry and was told: “No, leave the French rose in its own back garden.

“We had enough trouble in the First World War.”

The commanding officer eventually changed his mind, but Mr Hawkins had to return to Italy for another eight months and then his unit was sent to Austria for a year.

The couple stayed in contact through letters, and they eventually got married in Lyon before settling in the UK.

Mrs Hawkins said that the secret to their long marriage was a little give and take.

Mr Hawkins agreed, saying that it was about understanding, respect, sharing the good and the bad, and having family around you.

The couple have three daughters, seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

They celebrated their anniversary with a party at their daughter's house in Ufton Nervet.