THE wheels of love are still turning for a couple who met at a skate rink in 1948.

Ron and Terri Cornell, of Parkside Quarter, Colchester, marked their 65th wedding anniversary with a party at Colchester Rollerworld.

They first met at a rink at Butlins, in Skegness, when Mrs Cornell, now 84, was working as a red coat.

She spurned Mr Cornell’s advances, but they met again six months later, unsurprisingly at a skating rink, when they were both living in east London.

Mrs Cornell, who has performed in numerous skating shows and still works at Rollerworld as an instructor twice a week, said: “When I was at Butlins, he came up to me with all his friends, but I ignored him.

“When the season had finished, I went back to Forest Gate and was at a skating rink and there he was.

“It was about six months later and a complete coincidence.”

Mr Cornell, 89, a retired carptenter, skated regularly until nine years ago.

He said: “I decided to give up when I was 80 before I hurt myself, but I miss it very much.

“Terri looks after me very well.

“We had parties for our 50th and 60th anniversaries at Rollerworld, but we don’t think we will make it to the 70th, so decided to go for the 65th.”

Mr Cornell said the secret to reaching their blue sapphire anniversary was simple.

She said: “As long as he does as he is told, everything is OK.”

Rollerworld manager, Karl Zabroski, said: “I have been here for eight years and Terri has been part of our coaching team for all of that time. We see her a couple of times per week.

“We hosted their 60th anniversary here before, and I think we should book their 70th into the diary now.”