75 years wed We fell in love through letters

Sweethearts Lexie and Jim wrote to each other during World War II Lexie Bell, 94, Seven Hills, Qld

- EVA LEWICKI

Looking up from my desk, I saw a handsome sailor L walk into my office.

With his lovely blue eyes and wavy blond hair he took my breath away.

Aged 16, I was working as a clerk for an insurance company.

It was 1944 and the good-looking man's name was James, but everyone called him Jim.

He'd worked for the same insurance firm before joining the Royal Australian Navy two and a half years earlier. He was here to ask his old colleagues to come to his 21st birthday party.

Then he turned to me.

'Would you like to come to my party too?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

'Oh yes,' I said, thrilled.

My mum Gladys had other ideas.

"There's no way you're going,' she said back home when I told her. 'You're too young and he's a sailor!' I was disappointed not to go, but thankfully Mum let me attend a Saturday afternoon matinee with Jim the next week.

We exchanged addresses and began writing to each other when Jim was then sent to Darwin, NT, to help protect Australia from Japanese bombers during World War II.

Our correspondence eventually turned romantic.

I hope to see you again very soon... keep the fingers crossed, Jim wrote.

I still met other boys at dances, but none made my heart flutter like handsome, intelligent Jim did.

A year later, in 1945, peace was declared and Jim came home.

Excited, I met him at the train station. As he got off, I ran into his arms. All the other sailors clapped and whistled as we kissed.