A ROMANCE which has lasted more than 80 years began with a toffee.

Ernest and Joan Keeble, who are getting ready to celebrate 78 years of marriage on Sunday, first met aged just 12 and 11 at Craylands School and have now spent a lifetime together.

They still remember how love blossomed as they reveal the secret to their success.

Ernest Victor Keeble, 95, and Joan Daisy Keeble, 94, live on Barnard Close in Basildon.

They met at school around the time it opened.

Joan said: “At that time the boys and girls were segregated, but we all met up as a gang of girls with Ernie and his friends.

“Being friends first was lovely.

“We got on so well and we still do.

“One day we went to Pitsea Market and the boys were offering out bags of sweets.

“I said no thank you until Ernie offered me a toffee and it felt like it was love at first sight.”

The couple were married on December 16, 1940 at St Michael’s Church in Pitsea.

Joan was just 16-years-old at the time and Ernest was 17.

Joan said: “It was a lovely memorable day.

“Our friends and family came and we went to the Railway Tavern pub for drinks after the ceremony.

“We had no pictures though because it was during the war.”

It was not long before Ernest had to do his duty and he served in the Army between 1943 and 1945 during the Second World War.

He was stationed variously in Africa and Italy.

Joan said: “I was ever so sad when he went.

“We had two babies at the time that were quite young, around the ages of two and three-years-old.

“It was difficult to get in and out of the raid shelter with the two of them on my own.”

When he returned they had a third child and loved raising their family.

Joan explained how she had looked up to her mother and father, hoping to have a relationship as good as theirs.

She said: “My mum and dad got married in the 1920s.

“They were pleased when they first met Ernie.”

Through school, the war, working, life, children and family the pair have remained together and remained happy.

Joan said: “The key to a happy marriage is to get on really well, which we do.

“We have our moments, but we don’t let it bother us.

“There has never been a time where I thought we wouldn’t last.

“We have an amazing family of five generations all from Basildon.

“I was born here and so were my siblings.

“I have a large family, three sisters, two brothers and three half brothers.

“I worked out I have a family of around 51 people all together.” The couple will be celebrating the same way they have enjoyed life – together.