A “one in a million” Helston couple have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a whirlwind week of parties for family and friends, writes Anita Bailey.

Kathleen (91) and Michael Oliver (92) of Castel Wary Close, Helston celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary with over 100 family members and friends.

The couple married in Canterbury, Kent before setting off on their BSA motorbike for a short honeymoon trip to Blackpool. “We spent our first night in a tiny tent with cold baked beans for breakfast” Kathleen recalls.

Michael joined the Royal Navy at 17 and in 1956 the young couple were posted to RNAS Culdrose, where Kathleen gave birth to their daughter Anita, followed by Lorraine in 1958.

After a two-year posting to Portland, in 1967 the family settled back in Helston where Michael was again based at Culdrose. “Helston felt like home right from the start”, Michael said. “For the years I was serving abroad, when the girls were small, it was reassuring to know my family were safe and part of a loving community back home in Cornwall”, he adds.

With a lifelong love of cars, motorbikes and aircraft, Michael worked locally as a mechanic after leaving the Navy and then returned to Culdrose working as a civilian until his retirement.

Kathleen loved working in M&S and Dingles but, her passion was working with children which she did as a dinner lady at Parc Eglos school from its opening day in 1965 and she has continued this connection ever since; volunteering to help children with their reading until well into her 80s!

She also served as Kerrier Division Commissioner for Guides and for 28 years, until her retirement, was a much loved Brown Owl of the 2nd Helston Brownies.

There are no official figures but it is believed only 30 couples per year in the UK, around one in a million, achieve this rare milestone of 70 years together. The couple were thrilled to receive a card in recognition of their achievement from King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Their celebratory week began with two smaller parties in Exmouth, for family and friends, before a surprise ‘Afternoon Tea’ party with friends in Helston.

Kathleen said “We only had a very small group of people attend our wedding, so it was absolutely wonderful to have been able to celebrate our 70th with so many friends and family over this week. The party in Helston was a complete surprise and, to top it all, there was a Norton BSA bike to take us down memory lane too – we are still lost for words!”

In lieu of gifts, guests generously donated to the RNLI and specialist reading books for Parc Eglos School.