Couple married for more than 60 years die within three hours of each other

Roy and Audrey Haynes. Pictures: supplied by Gordon Haynes (Image: Archant)

Former North Walsham town mayor Roy and his wife Audrey Haynes, also a community stalwart, died on June 7, and one of their sons, Gordon said: 'Not even death could keep them apart.

'Mum went at about 2.20am and we got a call at 6am to say that dad had died. Dad was at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital while mum was at Glendon House care home in Overstrand. Dad was 87 and mum was 84. Mum we were expecting to go and it was a happy release but it was out of the blue with dad,

'Dad had dedicated the last few years of his life to looking after mum at the care home. He went there daily and they were devoted to each other.

'Mum had been at the home three years while dad was just in hospital for a scan. He'd had a fall and recently been diagnosed with cancer. He went into cardiac arrest and died of heart failure. Mum died from dementia. Dad had been right as rain until about eight weeks ago. He lived on his own at Rye Close in North Walsham.'

The couple, who were both twins, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary together two years ago.

Born and raised in South Yorkshire, they settled in north Norfolk, living in Mundesley and North Walsham, 50 years ago.

Retired steel and chemical engineer Mr Haynes was twice mayor of North Walsham, in 1998 and 2003.

While working for his last employer, British Gas, Mr Haynes was among those developing the Bacton Gas site and is on film turning the wheel in 1968 which opened the flow of gas from the North Sea Leman field into the UK for the first time.

After retirement, he founded North Walsham's Bluebell Pond Society, to save the local beauty feature which was in danger of being built over.

The couple had three children and nine grandchildren.

The funeral service is at Cromer Crematorium on Friday, July 6 at 3pm.