'Not even death could keep them apart': Devoted couple who were married for 60 years die within hours of each other whilst only 25 miles apart

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A devoted couple who were married for more than 60 years have died within four hours of each other.

Audrey Haynes, 84, passed away at 2.20am in her care home and, at 6am, the grief-stricken family got a call to say her husband Roy, 87, had died in a hospital 25 miles away.

Today, one of their sons, Gordon Haynes, said 'Not even death could keep them apart.'

Audrey Haynes, 84, who had dementia, passed away at 2.20am in a care home in Norfolk. At 6am on the same day, her grief-stricken family got a call to say her husband Roy, 87, had died from heart failure in a hospital 25 miles away. (Above, the devoted pair celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary two years ago)

The couple met while both were employed at a steel works in Sheffield where Roy's stepfather was manager. They married in Sheffield (pictured) on March 17, 1956, and had three children, Beverly, Allan and Gordon

The couple, who were both twins, celebrated their diamond (60th) wedding anniversary two years ago.

Born and raised in South Yorkshire, they settled half a century ago in Norfolk, living in Mundesley and North Walsham.

Roy, a retired steel and chemical engineer, was twice mayor of North Walsham - in 1998 and 2003.

Gordon said: 'Dad was at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital while mum was at Glendon House care home in Overstrand, Cromer.

'Mum had been at the home for three years while Dad was just in hospital for a scan. He'd had a fall and recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Mr Haynes - who was twice mayor of North Walsham - had gone to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for a scan following a fall. He went into cardiac arrest and died on June 7. Hours earlier, his wife passed away at Glendon House care home in Overstrand, Cromer

'Mum went at about 2.20am [on June 7] - she died from dementia. Then we got a call at 6am to say that Dad had died. He'd gone into cardiac arrest and died of heart failure.

'He had been right as rain until about eight weeks ago.

'We were expecting Mum to go and it was a happy release, but it was out of the blue with Dad.

'He'd 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. He lived on his own in North Walsham.'

While working for his last employer, British Gas, Roy was in the team developing the Bacton Gas site.

He was seen 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 a 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. 

Audrey, Roy and the steel works that brought them together

Audrey and Roy Haynes were surrounded by family and friends at a party to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on March 17, 2016.

At the time, Roy's twin sister Iris was still alive.

Audrey, one of 14 children, was an identical twin and her twin Pat was also still alive in March 2016.

After retirement in 1991, Roy founded North Walsham's Bluebell Pond Society, to save a local beauty feature which was in danger of being filled in and built over, and he organised twice-yearly sessions of volunteers to clear it out.

Audrey would also help out but in 2012 she was diagnosed with dementia and was taken to Glendon House.

The couple met while both were employed at a steel works in Sheffield where Roy's stepfather was manager.

His real father, a coal miner, had been killed at the beginning of the Second World War in a pit accident at Grimethorpe Colliery.

Roy qualified as an engineer at Sheffield University and from 1952-1954 did his National Service in the Army, serving in Germany, Malta, Sudan and Egypt. He was one of the first National Service men to become a Warrant Officer.

The couple married in Sheffield on March 17, 1956, and had three children, Beverly, Allan and Gordon.

The family moved to Mundesley, Norfolk, in 1968 where Audrey founded the Mundesley Singers and helped with school dinners. They later settled in North Walsham.

Both were heavily involved in North Walsham's annual Festival of Fun which raised thousands of pounds over the years for the Bluebell Pond Society and local schools.

The pair were lifelong socialists and in 1995 and 2003 Roy was Labour deputy leader of North Norfolk District Council.

He was also a former executive member of North Walsham Citizens Advice Bureau, and ex-membership secretary of the North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust.

At their 'diamond' party in 2016, he praised his wife who had brought up their children alone at times when his work meant he was based elsewhere.

He chuckled: 'We've had rows of course, but we've always got back together again - it's because Audrey thinks I'm a genius!'