Love has never wavered for Levin couple Betty and Edward Bagley, who celebrated 70 years of marital bliss yesterday, quietly with a few family members.
When she was told her youngest son had rung the Chronicle about their milestone Mrs Bagley said, "What did you do that for?" Nonetheless they were happy to talk about their lives.
The couple, who still hold hands regularly, have been in New Zealand 44 years from England and in Levin about 14. Two of their three children — two boys and a girl — live here too. The Bagleys spent many years living in the Wellington region.
Edward (93) is from Liverpool, while Betty (89) is from Birmingham. They met as penpals, through Betty's brother, who was in the army.
"I asked him one day if one of the other guys would like a penpal," said Mrs Bagley. Though they were both determined never to meet up, they did meet when Edward got leave. He was stationed in Germany, and brought Edward along.