A SOUTH Lakeland pensioner will be one of the guests of honour at a ceremony to mark a naval tragedy which claimed the life of her first husband more than 60 years ago.

June Tower, from Natland, plans to travel to the Channel Island of Alderney in April for the unveiling of a plaque in memory of the 75 men who died when the submarine HMS Affray sank in 1951.

Mrs Tower’s first husband John Treleaven was on board the vessel when it was lost on a training exercise.

The cause of the sinking has never been discovered and the submarine remains unsalvaged in the Hurd Deep. None of the crew escaped and their bodies still lie on the seabed.

Two years ago, Mrs Tower published a moving book called Maritime Mail, whichtold of her ‘secret’ engagement to Mr Treleaven.

She was inspired to write the volume after re-reading copies of almost 1,000 letters she exchanged with the trainee naval officer between 1946 and 1950.

The original letters, which June donated to the Maritime Museum in 1986, give a fascinating account of naval life in post-war Britain as well as telling an intense personal story.

Last year, she was a special guest at the opening of the museum’s Sammy Ofer Wing, which features her story in its Voyagers gallery. Her book is also on sale in the museum bookshop.

Her correspondence with Mr Treleaven began in January 1946 and continued until their marriage in April 1950.

A year later, just a day after their first wedding anniversary, John was dead.

Mrs Tower later married Dr Julian Tower and the couple moved to South Lakeland in 1990.

The HMS Affray memorial plaque - featuring the names of all those who perished - will be unveiled at Alderney on April 16.