True romance for diamond couple

It is as if fate itself was behind the marriage of Peggy and Joe Miller – after all they were born on the same day and went to primary school together.

Even the Second World War, which separated them for the best part of a decade, could not stand in their way. The couple, of Wolverhampton Road, Pelsall, were both born in the village on October 13 1924 and found themselves in the same class at Pelsall Junior School. While there was no childhood romance, cupid was to get his way just a few years later.

Joe eventually signed up to the RAF, along with Peggy’s brother Bill, which sent him away during the Second World War, eventually returning to Britain in 1947 and a reunion of sorts.

It was then that romance quickly blossomed for the couple and they married within a year. In fact, they were together only months when Joe popped the question on his and Peggy’s birthday.

Then in March 1948 they married in front of friends and family, at St Michael’s Church, following a whirlwind romance. Sixty years on and they are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.

Mrs Miller said today: “We knew each other at school. Then years later we met when he was demobbed, got engaged on our birthday and were married 11 months after meeting again. The good thing about having the same birthday is that we never forget. He has no excuse.

“The secret of a good marriage is to be there for each other. If he is in the garden, I will go out and help with the weeding.”

Mr Miller spent 27 years with Bloxwich engineering while his wife worked as an assembler for Butlers for 34 years.

The happy couple, now both 83, spent their anniversary night on Thursday with family and friends, a group of about 20-plus at the upmarket The Terrace in Brownhills. This included nieces and nephews as well as many long-term friends.

Mrs Miller said she had enjoyed some of her favourite tipples of a glass of white wine, Babycham, a brandy and a glass of champagne for the toast.

“It was a lovely night,” she said. “We don’t have children of our own but we have lots of nieces and nephews who have children. It was lovely to have them all in one place and many of them hadn’t seen each other in years. The meal was absolutely lovely, too.”