The funeral of a Helston couple who died within six weeks of each other have taken place at Treswithian Crematorium, Camborne, with family friend Martin Matthews officiating.

William (Bill) Bernard Lawson, aged 89, and his wife, June Elizabeth, aged 86, had been married for almost 65 years. Bill was born in Liverpool in 1924, the only boy with three older sisters. He left school at 14, becoming an apprentice diesel fitter for a public bus corporation, Although in a reserved occupation, he decided to join the Royal Engineers during the final years of the war, and accompanied convoys crossing the Gulf, providing engineering support for the vehicles.

June was born into the Collinson family in Liverpool in 1927. Her father, Thomas Henry Collinson, accepted the King’s shilling and fought right through World War I. June left school to take up a position in a furrier’s shop, then accepted the offer of an office position in the famous Liver Buildings. However, before she was able to start, this part of the building was utilised by the military and the job fell through. She did, however, find a job at Crosville.

During World War II, Liverpool was bombed heavily and it was during one attack on the docks that a German bomber, on returning to Germany, discharged its surplus bombs, destroying a small close, including June’s family home. Fortunately, a Anderson shelter in the garden protected her and her family, but a neighbour’s three-year-old child was sadly killed.

After the war, Bill returned to Liverpool and went to live with his sister, Lily, owing to the death of their mother. He returned to work in Crosville where he met June and fell in love. He gave her some clothing coupons in exchange for a date, she agreed, and from then on they were seldom apart.

They married in 1949, see picture, and lived most of their life in Liverpool. Their only child, Patricia, was born in 1950. Not long after their daughter's birth they began to holiday in Cornwall travelling down in an Austin A4 car. They loved Cornwall and never missed a holiday up until they moved down to live.

Bill retired from Crosville after almost 40 years of service and he found great fulfilment working in a college, often with disadvantaged students. June went on to have a series of clerical jobs and was fortunate to work with the earliest computers, which she said were the size of rooms!

June also retired, spending most of her time gardening, sewing, reading and cooking. She also spent lots of time caring for her two grandsons, Stuart and Michael.

It was in the 1980s that the couple moved to Cornwall, first living in Redruth, followed by a move up to Prestatyn in Wales. They made several returns to Cornwall, but on their final return to Prestatyn Bill had a severe heart attack. Following a period of convalescence, they decided to move back to Cornwall where they remained until their deaths.

They visited their favourite places frequently until the onset of June’s illness two years ago.

They very much enjoyed meeting up with their great-grandchildren Anastasia, Ella, James, Sophia and Tiana.

Bill and June had many friends, the closest being Joyce and Fred whom they knew for almost 70 years.

They also made many friends in Cornwall, and June was often to be seen chatting to friends in Helston. Bill also remained in close contact with his nieces and nephews, and they both treasured return visits to Liverpool. While Bill was a practical man, he loved involving himself in political debates. They were both ardent supporters of Liverpool Football Club.

Family mourners: Mr and Mrs D Hosking, daughter and son-in-law; Messrs S Donnington and M Donnington, grandsons; Jeanette and John Higham, Pauline and Ian Wilton, Ian Collinson, cousins.

Funeral director: F E Strike & Sons (Porthleven)