Nobby and Ann are golden couple one year on

Last year Nobby '“ whose real name is Cecil '“ was in University College Hospital having his leg amputated because he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Now Ann wants to pay tribute to the man she shared her life with and said: "We couldn't celebrate our 50th but now I would like to thank him for 51 years.

"He has been such a good husband.

"We have had ups and downs now and again, as you do, but I just want to say to him - thank-you so much for all the good years we have had together.

"I love you forever."

Ann and Nobby live in Rother Court near London Road and have five children '“ their two daughters are Janet and Wendy, and their sons are Nigel, Anthony and Steven.

They have 11 grandchildren - Melanie, Claire, Emma, James, Hannah, Hazel, Jeremy, Trevor, Catherine, Alex and Shaun - and three great-grandchildren who are Liam, Luke and Charlotte.

Ann, now 69, grew up in Ninfield and her maiden name was Barker '“ she had five brothers and five sisters.

Nobby, 72, was one of four children '“ he had one sister, two brothers and lived in London Road.

Ann said: "We were childhood sweethearts. My sister Gladys married his brother John, and I went to visit her when Nobby had just come home on leave from the Army. He just came and said '“ do you think you could write to me? He had just been posted to Germany. We just took off from there."

They married in Hailsham Register Office in 1957 and made their home in Buxton Drive before moving to Germany when Nobby re-joined the Army.

He came out in 1967 because Ann was suffering health problems; he became a painter and decorator and joined TA, while the family settled down in London Road. He is an animal lover who has looked after unwanted strays and supported Rysted animal rescue.

Ann commented: "We found out he had cancer two years ago. He had a rare Sarcoma on his leg which had to be amputated '“ and now it is back. We went when our great grand-daughter Emma and Mark were married in August and they shared the wedding reception at Bexhill Leisure centre with us and they played the Anniversary Waltz for us.

"I just don't want him to be forgotten after all these years we have been together."