Standing
awkwardly, swamped in their formal wedding attire, Ron and Eileen
Everest pose as four year-olds - dressed in their best and on the way to
a local carnival. Some 87 years later, the couple are still side by
side, as they celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary almost nine
decades after this family photograph was taken.
Chief Petty Officers Thomas Everest and Colin Campbell met in the Royal Navy and as they both lived in Kent they and their wives became firm friends. Ronald was born to Thomas and his wife, Gertrude, in August 1921.
Just seven months later Colin's wife, Kate, gave birth to baby Eileen in the same labour ward. The young pair became inseparable over the next four years as they played together day in day out, Ron always protective of his slightly younger chum.
The Everests, from Beetley, near Dereham, Norfolk, celebrated their Platinum wedding just this week. The cherished family photograph - taken in 1926 - has fondly become known as their 'wedding rehearsal'.
'But that was the last time I saw Ron.' Eileen's parents moved the family to Greenwich, south-east London. A decade later they moved back to Welling, Kent, while Ron's family had settled in nearby Gravesend after a stint in Scotland.
Mrs Everest said: 'Nobody had telephones in their homes in those days. 'But when I was 18 I started work and there was a telephone and I really wanted to ring someone but didn't know anyone to call. 'I asked my mother and she suggested her friend, Gertrude, who ran a shop and post office. 'I rang her up and, of course, it was Ron's mother. 'She came over to visit me, without Ron at first, and then he came later.'
Mr Everest, who followed his father into the navy at just 15, admitted that as a teenager he was initially nervous of courting the beautiful young woman with whom he had been reunited. But the handsome young sailor started writing to her from his naval barracks and finally plucked up the courage to ask out the apple of his eye. Mrs Everest admits: 'I still have that letter.'
After their friendship had been rekindled - the young couple fell head over heels in love and soon were engaged in 1940, a year after the Second World War erupted, plunging Europe back in to the bloodiest conflict of all time.
They had to put their wedding on hold as Ron was sent to fight the Japanese in the Far East in 1941 before joining the Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union. The Royal Navy officer spent two years away from home, with just one letter every few weeks getting through to his sweetheart back home.
When her fiance returned in June 1943, their wedding - arranged within just five days - was held in Welling. It tied together the two families who have been friends for 25 years and forged a stronger bond between two fathers.
The Everests moved to Norfolk from Kent in 1986 to be near their only daughter, Carol, and her family.
Mrs Everest said: 'It is quite an unusual story, especially these days, but we have got on well together most of the time.' As for her beloved husband, he revealed his good humoured secret for such a long and successful fairytale marriage: 'We promised to love, honour and obey - and I did all the obeying.'
Chief Petty Officers Thomas Everest and Colin Campbell met in the Royal Navy and as they both lived in Kent they and their wives became firm friends. Ronald was born to Thomas and his wife, Gertrude, in August 1921.
Just seven months later Colin's wife, Kate, gave birth to baby Eileen in the same labour ward. The young pair became inseparable over the next four years as they played together day in day out, Ron always protective of his slightly younger chum.
The Everests, from Beetley, near Dereham, Norfolk, celebrated their Platinum wedding just this week. The cherished family photograph - taken in 1926 - has fondly become known as their 'wedding rehearsal'.
'But that was the last time I saw Ron.' Eileen's parents moved the family to Greenwich, south-east London. A decade later they moved back to Welling, Kent, while Ron's family had settled in nearby Gravesend after a stint in Scotland.
Mrs Everest said: 'Nobody had telephones in their homes in those days. 'But when I was 18 I started work and there was a telephone and I really wanted to ring someone but didn't know anyone to call. 'I asked my mother and she suggested her friend, Gertrude, who ran a shop and post office. 'I rang her up and, of course, it was Ron's mother. 'She came over to visit me, without Ron at first, and then he came later.'
Mr Everest, who followed his father into the navy at just 15, admitted that as a teenager he was initially nervous of courting the beautiful young woman with whom he had been reunited. But the handsome young sailor started writing to her from his naval barracks and finally plucked up the courage to ask out the apple of his eye. Mrs Everest admits: 'I still have that letter.'
After their friendship had been rekindled - the young couple fell head over heels in love and soon were engaged in 1940, a year after the Second World War erupted, plunging Europe back in to the bloodiest conflict of all time.
They had to put their wedding on hold as Ron was sent to fight the Japanese in the Far East in 1941 before joining the Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union. The Royal Navy officer spent two years away from home, with just one letter every few weeks getting through to his sweetheart back home.
When her fiance returned in June 1943, their wedding - arranged within just five days - was held in Welling. It tied together the two families who have been friends for 25 years and forged a stronger bond between two fathers.
The Everests moved to Norfolk from Kent in 1986 to be near their only daughter, Carol, and her family.
Mrs Everest said: 'It is quite an unusual story, especially these days, but we have got on well together most of the time.' As for her beloved husband, he revealed his good humoured secret for such a long and successful fairytale marriage: 'We promised to love, honour and obey - and I did all the obeying.'
