It was due to be a big year of milestone birthdays and an anniversary for one couple, but due to coronavirus, celebrations had to be paused.

Margaret and John Crabbe, from Uplyme, were due to mark their diamond wedding anniversary and both their 80th birthdays – Margaret in April and John in August.

The couple had planned a big celebration for September, but like many, had to postpone due to the pandemic.

However, in April during the weekly NHS clap, villagers also sang happy birthday to Margaret over loudspeakers. This was organised by the ‘lovely landlords’ at the Talbot Arms, Wendy and Steve.

They met in Southsea while Margaret was on holiday from Birmingham and John was in the Royal Navy and stationed there.

A romance kindled with limited communication back than and they married in Birmingham on September 3, 1960. They lived there for a few years before settling in Uplyme - where John was born - in the 1960s.

The couple managed to have a small celebration complete with an anniversary cake in the garden of their son Ian and daughter-in-law Rebecca with close family members.