Wartime theatre-loving Northampton couple celebrate 73 years of marriage

The Westone pair, who will both turn 97 years old next week, met at The Royal & Dengate Theatre when they were in their early twenties.Dorothy was Eric’s boss for a period of time before they tied the knot.

She worked as a stage manager and Eric was a professional actor who went under the stage name of ‘Robert Ashley’.On April 3rd, 1945 the couple were married in St Matthews Church on the Kettering Road before going on to live and work in Bristol, Liverpool, Harrogate and Folkestone.

Dorothy said her colleagues called her ‘The Wartime Stage Manager’ during the period when men were called up to the war.Dorothy, who has two daughters and a son with Eric, was particularly attracted to her husband's smart dress sense and says the trick to living a long life is healthy food... with the occasional chocolate treat and glass of sherry.

Neighbours at the duo’s wedding anniversary party recalled Eric's love for gardening and said they would often look out of their windows and see the pair perfectly dressed up, in matching colours, enjoying the outdoors.