Pearman and his sweetheart, Dorothy, were no exception.

They had little ready money. And, with German submarines sinking supply ships, there were food shortages.

But what they did have, they had in abundance -- a love and respect for each other.

And yesterday the couple, from Peak Lane, Cedar Hill, Warwick, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

It is 50 years since Mr. Pearman, then 27, and his 22-year-old bride tied the knot at the Warwick manse of a minister from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

"Life was very hard then,'' recalls Mr. Pearman, who was earning little more than five shillings a day as a spray painter.

"It was very rough. People complain about life nowadays, but there is no comparison. The only thing we escaped then was the German bombardment.'' But the Bermuda back in the '40s and '50s also had many good points, stressed Mr. Pearman.

There was less materialism -- and also less crime, and life was much slower.

"I've seen many changes over the years, and not for the better,'' Mr. Pearman added.

The couple, who have lived in Warwick all their married life, met as neighbours.

"He was very quiet, and I suppose I was more of an extrovert,'' said Mrs.

Pearman, the youngest of 17 children.

Asked about the secret of their marriage, Mr. Pearman said: "It's a matter of understanding each other, and giving and taking. We put up with our ups and downs.'' The couple are immensely proud of their children -- Lucille, Diane, Beverley, Karen, Sonja and Juliet and Edward Jr.

LIVING WELL -- Mr. and Mrs. Pearman who celebrated 50 years of marriage yesterday.