By Jo Charlton

newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.uk

Childhood sweethearts have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Elsie was the girl next door when Stanley Masters met her 76 years ago and told her: "I think you suit me."

In the years that followed the couple had three children at the family home in Birchanger Road, South Norwood.

And their brood has not stopped growing since with six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren – the youngest being nine months old.

Stanley, 91, said: "Holidaying with the little ones is what's kept us young.

"Until recently we went on holiday with the grandchildren every year."

They first met on rambles organised by their church in Deptford, where they both lived at the time, when Stanley was 15 and Elsie was 17.

After five years courting Stanley was called up for the war in 1939.

They married a year later in Deptford and rented a room from Elsie's parents.

However, a year or so later Stanley was sent to Iceland for two-and a-half years, and it was during this time that their house was bombed and they lost everything.

After a short stint in Peckham, they moved to their South Norwood home in 1955.

Stanley said: "We spent some very happy times together. Early on in our marriage we both attended evening classes and I would meet her after.

"We both loved to walk and until around two years ago we walked everywhere.

"We both retired in the 80s so we've had a long time together to do the things we like."

Unfortunately Elsie, 93, has suffered from macular degeneration disease for the last couple of years, and at the beginning of last year Stanley realised he could no longer care for her.

She now resides at Barrington Lodge Nursing Home, in Morland Road, Addiscombe, where Stanley goes every single day.

This is where they celebrated their anniversary on February 17 with a meal for the family.

He said: "It was a lovely meal to celebrate. I find it lonely without Elsie when I come home to make my supper.

"But I get a lot of pleasure out of helping my wife and being with her. We know we haven't got all of those years ahead of us that we've had so we enjoy what we can."