AN ILKLEY woman has recalled her doomed wartime romance for a television documentary sixty years after her fianc was killed in the Battle of Britain.

Edith Kup, of Wells Walk, was invited to tell her compelling tale of thwarted love for a BBC tribute, which was televised on Sunday.

Mrs Kup's fianc, Denis Wissler, was among the pilots shot down by German fighter planes in the fierce airborne battle, which saved Britain from enemy invasion.

In a twist of fate, Mrs Kup heard that his plane had been lost over a loudspeaker as she worked in intelligence, plotting the position of aircraft.

Mrs Kup said: "I was on duty at the time. Somebody said over the loud speaker that an aircraft was going down and they didn't know who. But I did. I had a very strong feeling and I knew it was Denis.

"It wasn't until I went to the camp that the field sergeant was waiting for me. She said she was sorry and that was it."

Mrs Kup, 81, had been posted to Debdon, in Essex, after signing up as a WAF and undergoing a two-week training course, in Yeadon.

It was in Essex that she met her fianc, dashing fighter pilot Denis Wissler.

The couple enjoyed an intense romance and set a date for their wedding three months after meeting.

Mrs Kup said: "It was much more intense. Now if you rather like someone it does not matter if they ask you out today or tomorrow. Then it did because the next day they might be dead or you might be dead."

Their plans to marry at a small Norman church were shattered six months before their wedding.

The war intervened and Mr Wissler set off on a flight from which he would never return.

Far from being bitter about his death Mrs Kup is grateful for the time they shared.

She said: "I think we were lucky because if it wasn't for the war we might never have met. You are very lucky to meet the love of your life."

Determined to spare them the ordeal of a telegram, Mrs Kup broke the news of his death to Denis's family herself and they remained close until they died.

Mrs Kup eventually married a doctor, Richard Kup, and they had two children Larch, now 52, and Bryony, 49.

Mrs Kup was unable to forget Denis and the marriage ended after seven years.

Denis was the love of her life and Mrs Kup has never lost sight of him - keeping his wartime diary, which speaks of his love for her.

Mrs Kup is full of praise for all the men who risked their lives in the Battle of Britain.

She said: "It was a case of going to defend their home and people against attack.

"I have not met anybody who regretted being there. We felt that we profited from the experience and to have known them."

Their love story was first told in the book and documentary, The Finest Hour.

Mrs Kup has also given subsequent interviews to Look North.

She is now hoping to retire from the limelight.

She said: "It is not surprising that pop stars get above themselves. It took me three hours to do my shopping after Finest Hour was shown. And I had letters from all over the world. I have had a really good year but I am slowing down now."