When John Lloyd celebrated turning 100 last month there was a tinge of sorrow that his wife Elaine wasn’t there to share it. Michael Race tells their love story

In 1938, aged 23 and working for the Bank of England John Lloyd attended a ladies club in Roehampton, London.

It was there where he met the love of his life – Elaine Josephine Cromwell – with whom he spent 75 years of happy marriage.

“I proposed to her three days later,” says Mr Lloyd, 100, who now lives in Southmoor, near Abingdon.

“It was just something I did, she was a stunning looking woman.

“I just said that’s mine and she was there with a friend of mine and I had to separate them.

“I was an eager beaver, I wasn’t letting her go and I didn’t make a mistake, we got married on March 11 1939 and were married for 75 years.”

But soon after marriage, Mr Lloyd was sent to war as an able seaman and his wife, Elaine joined the Wrens.

He served from August 1939 to November 1945 and finished as a Lieutenant Commander of HMS LST 3515, later named HMS Stalker.

He also served on HMS Wakefall, HMS Paynter, HMS Arab and HMS Gentian and was awarded the Arctic Star medal for serving on the deadly convoys supplying Russia.

Mr Lloyd finished his service in 1946 and went back to working for the bank where he moved through the ranks until his retirement in 1975.

He became a father to two sons, Anthony, born in April 1944 and later Stephen, who was born in May 1950.

The family lived in a flat in West London before moving to his parents while their family home was being built.

Speaking about his wife, who passed away aged 97 last year, Mr Lloyd said: “She brought up the two boys, she could do anything. She was very good at tapestry, took up yoga, taught yoga, was a great cook.

“We both took up bridge and were dance partners; we were clapped off the floor once.

“I suppose the secret to our marriage was that we compromised.

“We never argued about anything, we were very happy, we enjoyed similar hobbies like walking and gardening.

“Family life was good and to be together for 75 years must send some sort of message.”

As his career in the Bank of England took off, the family moved to Manchester in May 1964 and then Merseyside in 1968, where he lived until his retirement.

“The last 10 years of my job were wonderful and in addition to running the branch I went out to talk to chairmen and managing directors. We entertained as an agent of the Bank of England, there was a lot of diners and it was a very interesting time to live in. I was lucky.”

After retiring, Mr Lloyd and his wife moved to Spain to live for 12 years before returning to the UK and moving into a converted barn in Southmoor in the grounds of Anthony’s hotel in 2006.

Mr Lloyd added: “We realised we were getting on in age and Anthony very kindly converted the barn and it’s a lovely place to live.

“Being 100 I’m feeling fine, my general lifestyle was generally good and I suppose I have good genes.

“I’m writing my autobiography which keeps me busy.

“I have friends that visit and spend time on my iPad keeping in touch with my family and research on the internet and still have my car. I cook for myself, live on my own and I’m close to my family and I’m going to continue living as I do and finish my story.”