They now have five children, 15 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Mrs Reynolds said: "I was working in the packing room of a Co-op margarine factory in Irlam, near Manchester, for 24 shillings a week.

"I knew some of the margarine was going to the armed forces and I secretly hoped a brave soldier, airman or sailor would find my name and address and write back."

One box of margarine ended up at a Royal Navy base in Portsmouth after spending six months in cold storage.

Mr Reynolds was working on minesweepers in the English Channel when the cook called him over and handed him the slip of paper with Bette's details on it.

"He pointed out I was the only single lad in the entire crew so I put the bit of paper in my coat," he said.

He responded the next time the ship docked.

Soon the couple were corresponding regularly and eventually Bette agreed to travel to Portsmouth to meet him.

"I stepped out of the train and all I could see was sailors," she said.

"After about five minutes on the platform I was about to give up but I heard a voice saying: 'Are you Bette?'"

The couple kept writing and when Mr Reynolds left the Navy they were married in London in 1946.

They settled back in Mr Reynolds' home town of Milford Haven where they have lived ever since.

"It was a million to one chance that Bette's message found me," Mr Reynolds added.

"It was a bit like a message in a bottle - it could have ended up anywhere. Maybe it was fate but I was a very lucky man."