MILLIE and Jim Cooper are celebrating their platinum wedding anniversary, a rare and remarkable milestone.

They have seen some astonishing changes in their 70 years together. In York in 1930, the river was crucial for trade, the Castle Prison still bordered Clifford's Tower, and the confectionery industry employed 10,000. Today the river is crucial for tourism, the area next to Clifford's Tower is set to change again, and cutting edge bio-science firms are increasingly important employers.

Mr and Mrs Cooper have together lived through a world war, more than one recession and the start of a new millennium. Their partnership is truly special, and we send them our congratulations.