WAR hero Bob Bryson and his wife Sally celebrate their diamond wedding day next Thursday.

The couple, who met parading the streets of Tyldesley, married by special licence at the town's Parish Church -- only months before Desert Rat Bob left for war service abroad. After action in South Africa, Egypt and Libya Bob, 82, was captured in 1942 and Sally, 81, still has the painful letter she received informing her that her Tank Regiment husband was missing. Thankfully she was informed of his capture a short time later.

The couple, of Kings Court, Tyldesley, who were reunited in 1945, have two children Patricia and Robert, five grandchildren and six great grand children.

Bob said: "I was in the seige of Tobruk and we broke out, but the enemy attacked again and I was captured and was a prisoner of war in both Italy and Germany." At the end of 1944 on the approach of the Russians, the captives set out on the Big Trek ending up in Czechoslovakia from where Bob came back to England. He became an LUT bus conductor and driver and worked in both Chanters and Mosley Common collieries before retiring from the ROF in Patricroft. While he was at war Sally worked in the munitions factory at Risley and eventually retired from Ward and Goldstones at Hindsford.

The couple have enjoyed dancing all their lives. Bob said: "We still have a shuffle at Atherton Labour Club, but it is a pale imitation of what it used to be. I call it jungle dancing these days, but we get up and have a shake."

The couple will celebrate with a family get together.