THERE'S never a dull moment in Doreen and Joe Upton's household and this week they were truly in the party mood.

Joe celebrates his 90th birthday today (Friday) just days after Doreen's 83rd birthday and in the same week as their first wedding anniversary!

"It's a laugh a minute," said Doreen.

Approaching his 90th birthday has not stopped Joe and his wife from enjoying their newly-found happiness. Still in that glowing honeymoon period they have enjoyed holidays in Brugge and Amsterdam in the past year.

Joe was born in Skipton, educated at St Stephen's School and on leaving went to work in the warehouse at Rycroft's Mill.

He went into the building trade with Tommy Chapman before serving with the Royal Engineers during the war. He went abroad in 1940 travelling through India and Singapore, building desert railways, moving into North Africa and eventually through Malta and Italy before being de-mobbed in 1945.

Back in Skipton he went to work for the electricity board, and then became caretaker at the council offices until his retirement.

Joe has two daughters from two previous marriages and after being widowed must never have dreamt he would find love again. But at a family wedding he met Doreen and it was love at first sight.

"We never fall out," said Joe. "We never have a dull moment."

Joe is a well-known face at the club on Broughton Road where he enjoys a drink and a game of dominoes.