LLANVAPLEY couple Dudley and Francis Blackwell were given a poignant reminder of the 'cycle' of life in more ways than one recently when they celebrated an amazing 70 years of married bliss.

Their story, spun by the wheels of time as it were, began when Dudley was busy hitting the skins as drummer in Frank Baynton's band - the Rhythm Aces - way back in the 1930's at a local dance.

The group Dudley was providing the backbeat for upon that fateful night consisted of Sid Walker on mandolin, Bill Wooles, clarinet, Evan Powell on the accordion, and Frank Baynton with his trombone.

The band, who rehearsed at Cwmyoy Hall, played regular dances at venues in the Pandy, Orcop, Garway Hill, Cwmyoy, and further afield.

However, it was at a Longtown dance, when Dudley first noticed across the sea of faces a pretty girl who was constantly smiling, particularly at him. The girl in question was schoolteacher Frances Howells.

The song of love had sung its first few notes and after a period of courting, 20-year-old Dudley and his sweetheart walked up the aisle together at Clodoch Church on August 31, 1940.

Returning from their honeymoon in Worcester, the newlyweds soon realised they had nothing in which to cook the all important bacon and egg, and made a urgent pit-stop at Ledbury to buy a frying home, before carrying on to their new home - Pant Farm in Forest Coalpit.

'The Pant' had been bought as Pant Estate by Dudley's father Charles Blackwell. The 'Estate' included The Croft, Peentwyn, and two ruined properties - Delwood and Sunset Pass.

At this time, Dudley's father was doing some work on an old property called Far Graig at Cross Ash and bought from them some oak beams and a fine oak door which he promptly fitted, complete with its enormous key.

Unfortunately Dudley and Francis lost the key and being afraid to tell Blackwell senior, went in and out through one of the farm's windows for several months, until their horror, Dudley's father actually found the key. Quite naturally Charles made sure the newlyweds never forget their humorous little 'secret'.

Dudley spent his childhood living at Brooklands in Llanvihangel Crucorney, better known in those days as Blackwell's Garage, or Blackwell's Buses.

Dudley was 15 when he started his battery and radio round in 1935. Delivering rechargeable accumulators, purchased through his father's garage, where they were also recharged.

Using the bicycle his round was restricted to Cwmyoy and Longtown valleys.

At 17 he purchased a van and two wheels became four, as Dudley's round ventured further afield into the Llanvapley, Grosmont and Craswell areas.

In 1942 Dudley and Francis moved to Perth-y-Pia in Llanvapley, where they still reside, and although Frances had helped with the round for a few years, with the war at its height the Blackwells gave up the round.

During the war, as most farms did at that time, the Blackwells played home to both evacuees and prisoners of war. They also billeted Sgt. Rogers, who sadly died on active service, and his wife (to whose little daughter Juanita they are Godparents.)

They also put a roof over the head of Captain Bainbridge and family. There was a dreadful scare one day when the Captain's little girl had to be taken by ambulance to the Cottage Hospital. She had eaten some pretty berries which were later discovered to have been Deadly Nightshade, but luckily the little girl made a full recovery.

During this eventful period, the Captain did however lose something very close to his heart- a beautiful horse which was kicked by a mule before jumping on a stake.

In the 1970's and 1980's, Dudley had a vegetables and potatoes round serving Abergavenny and was well known as 'Dud the Spun.' The husband and wife grew not only potatoes on their farm, but beans, swedes, cabbage and other vegetables.

During this time a milk round was established, which took in Llantilio Crosseny and went as far as Brynderi, Penros out to Llandewi Rhydderch, the Plough and back to Llanvapley.

The milk round ended in 1979 and a bed and breakfast business begun in 1986.

In addition to running the bed and breakfast, Frances made cards for all occasions and sold them for various charities, raising hundreds of pounds.

The Blackwell's farm continued as beef and dairy until the BSE outbreak when they stopped beef rearing and changed to all dairy but organic in 1996.

After 50 years of farming, Dudley and Francis now live happily in the Perth-y-Pia bungalow with their son Bernard running the farm, whilst their daughter Velia went on to become Deputy Head Teacher at Blaina.

70 years after making their vows, the Blackwells are a living testament to the sanctity of a marriage bound in love and made inviolate by the passage of years.

And the Blackwell's bond is not the only thing to survive the dynasty of decades. In the weeks prior to their anniversary, Dudley's old bike (pictured) was unexpectedly unearthed, which jogged a few old memories, and although rusty of chain, worn of saddle, and weary of wheel, it still did an amazing job of transporting Dudley and his wife down memory lane and through the mists of time.