NOWADAYS people may opt to create an online dating profile to desperately find true love but you wouldn't hear about partners finding each other through pen pal correspondence anymore, would you?
Once upon a time it did happen – before texting, e-mails or Skype – people would write letters and send them around the world, eagerly awaiting a response.
Fred and Eileen Howden, of Ancholme Avenue, in Immingham, wrote to each other for three years before they finally came face to face at Christmas time in 1943 when Fred briefly returned to these shores during the Second World War.
They were swiftly married shortly afterwards in 1944.
Eileen, 92, said: "It was love at first sight.
"I already felt as though I knew him because we'd been introduced by letter."
The loving pair have now successfully surpassed the incredible milestone of 70 years of marriage and were joined by Eileen's Texas-based sister for their Platinum Anniversary celebrations.
They became parents to three children, grandparents to eight and have four great-grandsons.
Fred, 91, said: "We're very fond of each other, we've never looked at anyone else and we treat each other with respect.
"We've had our up and downs but it's not been a boring life by any means."
Eileen said: "He's never sworn at me once in my life, he's very house proud and he's always been like that.
"He would still come home and do the washing up every day, not that I was lazy."
During their initial years together, Fred not only served in the Navy as a leading torpedo operator until 1945, but he also was based away from home during the Korean War, which made things particularly testy as the couple had two children by then.
But ever since, they have enjoyed many happy years together and long may it continue for these lovely one-time pen pals.
