TRIBUTES have been paid to a Dorchester couple who died within days of each other after being married for 67 years.

Bob Pinkney, a devout churchgoer and amateur actor who served in Asia in the Second World War, met his future wife after moving to Dorchester in the 1930s.

He died of old age, aged 94, just three days after his wife Joyce Pinkney passed away for the same reason in the care of staff at Dorset County Hospital at the age of 89.

A few weeks prior to their deaths, Mr Pinkney had suffered a heart attack from which he briefly recovered, and returned home to be with his wife.

Their cremation was due to take place today at Weymouth Crematorium, with a memorial service at the Dorchester Baptist Church in the afternoon.

The Rev Dr Clive Jenkins said: "I think they both realised that he was coming home and he just slowly, but in a very, very dignified way, got weaker.

"I think she, as so often happens, reacted to that whole situation and was herself taken into hospital three or four days after that."

He added that the couple would be sorely missed not only by family but at the church where they had worshipped together for 72 years.

Mr Pinkney, who was originally from Stockton-on-Tees, moved to Dorchester to look for work during the Depression.

After becoming a member of the Baptist church and choir he met, and later married, Joyce, an apprentice dressmaker from Dorchester who worked at the then Genges department store, Trinity Street, where the Argos store now stands.

Mr Pinkney had also taken the lead role in the 1936 pageant Heroes Of Non- Conformity at the Baptist church and the couple were married in September 1938.

Mr Pinkney served in the RAF from 1941 to 1946, seeing active service in Palestine, Ceylon, India and Burma.

Mrs Pinkney meanwhile took on the job her husband had found at the Eldridge Pope brewery as her contribution to the war effort.

They remained together in the county town after the war until their deaths, leaving behind children and grandchildren.

After being informed of his wife's death Mr Pinkney said: "Thank God she is now free from suffering and please God may I join her soon."

Three days later, his prayer was answered.