Couple share the secret behind their 66 year marriage
Couples who call Care UK’s Newbury Grove home have shared their tips towards having a long and lasting relationship, all so that younger generations may find their happily ever after as well.
One couple - David and Ann Gore - have been married for 66 years. David, 92, and Ann, 90, first crossed paths in Germany. At the time, Ann was enjoying quality time with her friends in the Ruhr region.
Their advice for couples to come? “Make sure you meet your future mother-in-law and study her carefully, so you know what is in store.”
Meanwhile, Hazel and Barry Lambert met in 1969 at their local pub. The pair married just two years later in February 1971, and Hazel had some advice for those looking to follow in their footsteps, “don’t be too proud to say that you are wrong and try to see the other person’s point of view, however difficult that may seem.”
The two even had an anecdote to share about their big day, explaining how Hazel had baked her own cake, decorating the dessert with real flowers that had been crystalised. One of their guests, who was unaware of the decorative choice, had eaten one of them believing them to be artificial - thankfully, they never found out.
Hazel’s advice may be easier to hear than to follow, but 77-year-old Maureen and 80-year-old Paul Long had a tip that was a bit easier to swallow, though no less effective. The lovebirds were set up over 55 years ago on a blind date by none other than Paul’s own brother.
“Switch off the TV and talk to each other,” Maureen advised.
Carol-Ann and Graham Foulkes enjoyed their first date in a Bath pub. Having explored the world - with Carol living everywhere from Kenya to Nairobi and the Canary Islands before settling in Newbury in 2003 - the couple have seen and done it all, but still consider “being able to laugh at yourself and allowing each other space when needed” as their most important takeaway.
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