It was a romantic gesture that began a love story that has now lasted over three-quarters of a century.
Derek Heywood had met then 19-year-old Jean at a dance at Great Moor Conservative club in Stockport where she was on a work's night out.
Servicemen were allowed in free and they caught each other's eye and began chatting after Derek, who was in the army at that time and was based on the south coast, popped in whilst visiting his family in Hazel Grove.
"He walked me home that night and the next day he appeared outside work as I'd told him where I worked and he waited for me to come out" Jean said. "And we started from there."
"After that we wrote to each other whilst he was in the army" she said. Then when he came out of the army after three and a half years he came back home, and we got married."
Seventy-five years later Derek and Jean, now both aged 96, and who this week celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in the care home where they live together, say their love for each other is stronger than ever.
"We are happy together and always have been," Jean said. "We love each other. We don't agree on everything but we agree on that.
"After all these years we're not going to change now are we? I'm not going to throw him out now."
They say they have had "good times, bad times and very bad times" but the couple, who had a daughter and have two grandsons, and four great grandchildren, credit never going to bed on an argument as the secret to their long and successful marriage.
The couple were wed at All Saints Parish Church in Heaton Norris on January 31, 1948, before a reception at Heaton Moor Conservative Club. "We had no money so my ring only cost four pounds and it was only 9 carat. But it's still there on my finger" Jean said.
She said the 'terrible' post-war rationing at the time also meant the food at their reception was limited to a ham with salad and an apple pie.
The following day, they went to Llandudno in North Wales for their honeymoon and Jean said: "Every meal we had prunes and custard for pudding as there was no food. They were bad years after the war but we got through them."
After getting married the couple lived in a rented room in Heaton Moor and then with Derek's grandparents in Chorlton before getting their own place in Offerton where they lived for 50 years.
The couple have had to deal with tragedy during their life, losing their daughter Barbara Ann in 1970 aged 33 when her two sons Stuart and Anthony were young boys. "We had a terrible time then, awful" Jean said. "But it passes you know."
They now have four great-grandchildren who are regular visitors. Jean who has mobility issues and Derek who is hard of hearing recently moved into Brinnington Hall Care Home where they have rooms next-door-but-one to each other.
They celebrated with cake and fizz at a party at the home over the weekend and again had visits from their family on the day itself on Tuesday.
Asked how she reflects on 75 years she said: "I can't believe it's been that long.. The years go so quickly. From 60 onwards it's gone very quickly.
"We're very lucky. Even though we're not altogether fit, we manage. We are lucky to be here together, at this age. Whatever comes in the future we are lucky."
Asked what the success to their marriage was she said: "Just plodding on day by day really. We've worked hard. We had to at the beginning as there was no jobs.
"We had a house, a rented house it had one tap, cold water. Nothing else to heat with other than your cooker and an outside toilet. You had to live like that. I don't know if many people could cope with that now.
"But over the years we have had lots of nice times. We've argued at times, doesn't everybody? But we've woken up the next morning and nothing was wrong.
"That's the best way. If you argue at night, don't get up with it the next morning. Don't sulk for a week. Just forget it and get up as if it's a new day. Things are never always perfect you have to accept that."
Though the couple say their anniversary began in the perfect way as they opened a card from Buckingham Palace with a message of congratulations from King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla.
It said: "My wife and I were so pleased to hear that you are celebrating your seventy-fifth wedding anniversary" and offered them 'warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on this happy occasion.'
They previously received a card from the late Queen Elizabeth on their 65 wedding anniversary, which sits pride of place in a frame in Jean's room.
"I couldn't believe it" she said. "And having got this long, to have one from the King as well is just grand. I feel honoured" she said. "We're gonna put this one in a frame next to it and they can sit side-by-side."
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