An Oxford couple are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary today with a special St Valentine’s party.

Alan, 90, and Dorothy Medlicott, 84, will be enjoying the day, along with their 11 grown-up children, at their home in Edgecombe Road, Barton.

It will be a double celebration for the couple, who will not only be holding the party to mark their anniversary on Thursday, but also Mrs Medlicott’s 85th birthday on tomorrow.

The couple met while working on the buses in Oxford.

Mr Medlicott was a driver and his young wife was a ‘clippy’ – a female conductor.

Despite never having worked on the same bus, the pair fell in love while chatting in the canteen on their breaks.

Just under four months after their first lunchtime meeting in November, the couple married at Oxford register office on February 12 , 1944.

Mrs Medlicott, nee Aldsworth, said the whirlwind romance meant the pair did not have much money for their big day.

She said: “When we got married we had just enough for a half a bitter each in the Eagle and Child pub to celebrate.”

For a short time the couple lived in Crick Road, North Oxford, before they moved to Barton.

Mr Medlicott left his job on the buses to deliver cars around the country for local dealerships and Mrs Medlicott became a full-time mother.

She said: ”We had 10 of our own children and we also adopted, so we had our hands full.

“Things were a bit tight, but we always made sure the children had nice clothes, and were fed properly and well. We made sure they never went without anything.“ The couple said they were pleased that 65 years after their first small ceremony, they could finally have a large party, along with their children and 17 grandchildren.

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk