THEY spent their lives together after marrying 66 years ago.

Now a former Huddersfield GP and his wife have died within five days of each other.

Dr Basil Robinson passed away at his Almondbury home on April 20. His wife Betty died just five days later.

Their daughter Helen Marshall said they wanted to go together.

Paying tribute to a couple she described as an amazing team, she said: “Someone said to me that it’s quite romantic what’s happened and I think they are right.

“Dad proposed after six weeks, they were married within four months and worked as a team for their 66 years of marriage and then they died within five days of each other.”

Dr Robinson met Betty, whose real name is Nancy Elizabeth, during the war.

He was in the Royal Navy but seconded to the Marines in Portsmouth where he became friends with Betty’s brother.

Six weeks later Dr Robinson popped the question, and they married in Huddersfield 66 years ago in a double wedding with Mrs Robinson’s brother Teddy Broadhead and his wife Joan.

Dr Robinson ran a practice from the family’s Fitzwilliam Street home where his wife was a great support to him, working alongside him to ensure the practice ran smoothly.

Dr Robinson retired in 1988 aged 75, but continued to work every Thursday and as holiday cover until he was 80.

Helen added: “My mother was the power behind the throne, as the saying goes.

“She’d be there to answer the phone and get the surgery ready as the surgery was in their home.

“They were an amazing team.

“My mother became a marriage counsellor and was involved in the Medical Benevolent Fund. It was something she was very passionate about.”

Mrs Robinson had previously been in the Land Army, based in Huddersfield, where she grew tomatoes and chrysanthemums, and worked at David Brown’s before she married.

The couple were founder members of the Huddersfield Sailing Club at Hade Edge and Mrs Robinson was a very keen gardener.

They had daughter Helen and a son, the late Edward. They were also doting grandparents to Edward and Jimmy.

Dr Robinson, who would have been 94 on Thursday, and Mrs Robinson, 88, will both be remembered together in a joint funeral at All Hallows Church, Westgate, Almondbury.

It will take place on Wednesday at midday.

Donations can be made in their memories to the Royal National lifeboat Institute.