Tom and Betty Ellis, of Conway Road, Falmouth, had a week of celebrations during the run-up to Christmas. The devoted couple celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary just two days after Tom’s 90th birthday.

They received a card from the Queen congratulating them on their achievement.

Tom and Betty, pictured with the card, have four children Roger, Norman, Elizabeth and Sally and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. They both said that the recipe for happiness and a good marriage is “give and take”.

“We have been blessed with lovely friends and a wonderful family who love and care for us,” they said.

The couple married in 1946 after Tom left the Royal Navy. He was Mentioned in Dispatches for gallantry during mine clearance operations in the River Scheldt in 1944.

Tom was master of one of the RMAS Fleet tenders working out of Coastlines until he retired in 1984.