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Still together after 80 years, Britain's oldest married couple celebrate...with a simple kiss
The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | May 26, 2008 | Jaya Narain

Posted on 05/25/2008 10:55:16 PM PDT by Stoat

Still together after 80 years, Britain's oldest married couple celebrate their 'oak' wedding with a simple kiss

By Jaya Narain
Last updated at 2:45 AM on 26th May 2008  

As with any married couple, there are times when Frank and Anita Milford don’t quite see eye to eye.

But they have never let the odd disagreement get in the way of their love for each other and their dedication to their marriage.

To prove it, Frank, 100, and Anita, 99, today celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary, equalling the record for England’s longest-ever marriage.

 
Frank and Anita Milford

Frank and Anita Milford are celebrating their 80th wedding anniversary

They say the secret to a lasting marriage is to iron out your arguments before bedtime and share a kiss and a cuddle every night before bed.

Mrs Milford said: ‘It’s our golden rule. Couples these days don’t last long because they often don’t take enough time for each other.
 

'Our advice to young couples would be to make time for a little romance every day.’

Mr Milford added: ‘To win over your sweetheart you need a dose of old-fashioned chivalry and don’t let your standards slip. We do everything together even after 80 years.’

 
Frank and Anita Milford

The couple met in 1926 and got married in 1928

The pair met in 1926 at a YMCA dance in their home town of Plymouth. They married two years later, on May 26, 1928, and after the register office ceremony popped to the cinema to catch a Charlie Chaplin film.

Shortly after they moved to a bungalow in the city’s St Budeaux district, where they lived until 2005. Mr Milford worked at Devonport Dockyard until retiring at 60.

The couple have two children, Marie, 78, and Frank, 73, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Mr Milford said: ‘We’re proud of what we have achieved. When we started we had low wages and worked very hard.

‘The war years were tough - a bomb even dropped on our house. But we have come
through it.’ Since moving to a nursing home, the couple have taken up a range of hobbies.

They have just received a letter from the Queen congratulating them on their ‘oak’ anniversary. Their 80 years together equals the English record set by Percy and Florence Arrowsmith of Hereford in 2006. Mr Arrowsmith died a fortnight after celebrating the anniversary.

Guinness World Records says the longest British marriage was that of Thomas and Elizabeth Morgan of Caerleon, South Wales, who were married for 81 years 260 days until her death in 1891.

 
Frank and Anita Milford

The couple say the key to a happy marriage is to share a kiss and a cuddle before bed

 

That was the year that was - 1928


Entertainer Bruce Forsyth is born.

Writer Thomas Hardy dies.

Heavy hailstones kill 11 people as storms sweep the UK.

Mickey Mouse appears in Steamboat Willie - the first cartoon with sound.

Aviator Amelia Earhart  becomes the first woman to successfully pilot an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean American actress Shirley Temple is born.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: anitamilford; anniversary; britain; england; frankmilford; greatbritain; marriage; oakwedding; uk; unitedkingdom
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Mr Milford added: ‘To win over your sweetheart you need a dose of old-fashioned chivalry and don’t let your standards slip. We do everything together even after 80 years.’

Traditional Conservative principles proven correct once again.  May God Bless them and give them both many more years together.

1 posted on 05/25/2008 10:55:17 PM PDT by Stoat
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To: taraytarah

PING


2 posted on 05/25/2008 11:03:20 PM PDT by kingattax (99 % of liberals give the rest a bad name)
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To: Stoat; Texas Termite; manna; Okies love Dubya 2; Fawnn; Harmless Teddy Bear; Kathy in Alaska; ...

This really has NOTHING to do with Logan’s Ping List, but hey.

Isn’t this WONDERFUL???? God bless you, Mr. & Mrs. Milford!!! Would you look at them grinning? Those smiles are from their hearts. Toooooo nice....


3 posted on 05/25/2008 11:36:09 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Vote for my German Shepherds!!!! They're smarter than what's running!!)
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To: Alouette
The couple have two children, Marie, 78, and Frank, 73, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

And YOU, Missy...win. HANDS DOWN! ;)

4 posted on 05/25/2008 11:37:24 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Vote for my German Shepherds!!!! They're smarter than what's running!!)
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To: Stoat

Wonderful. Genuinely heartwarming. Thanks for the post.


5 posted on 05/25/2008 11:38:10 PM PDT by AHerald ("Be faithful to God ... do not bother about the ridicule of the foolish." - St. Pio of Pietrelcina)
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To: Brad's Gramma
Thank you very much for pinging your list  :-)

img90/7096/thankyoush6.gif

6 posted on 05/25/2008 11:39:14 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: AHerald
Wonderful. Genuinely heartwarming. Thanks for the post.

I'm absolutely delighted that you've enjoyed it and have found it worthwhile.  You're quite welcome  :-)

7 posted on 05/25/2008 11:40:43 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat

Well....thank YOU for this thread. It is a breath of fresh air!

I’m STILL grinning, thinking of THEM laughing...

Ahhhhhh......ain’t true love grand???


8 posted on 05/25/2008 11:41:00 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Vote for my German Shepherds!!!! They're smarter than what's running!!)
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To: Brad's Gramma
Well....thank YOU for this thread. It is a breath of fresh air!

You're quite welcome, and I'm delighted that you've enjoyed it  :-)

I’m STILL grinning, thinking of THEM laughing...

Truly an image that touches the heart.

Ahhhhhh......ain’t true love grand???

The finest, most important force in the Universe, in my view.

9 posted on 05/25/2008 11:44:26 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Brad's Gramma

WOW WOW WOW!

Hubby would have to make it to the age of 112 and me 106 to tie that record!
Whew..
I think we’ll just shoot for 75 years! ;-)


10 posted on 05/25/2008 11:52:52 PM PDT by M0sby ((Pray for JimRob!))
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To: Stoat

God bless them.


11 posted on 05/25/2008 11:58:37 PM PDT by informavoracious (Freedom Isn't Free)
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To: Stoat

God bless them

My grandmother is 89 and can barely move.


12 posted on 05/25/2008 11:59:20 PM PDT by wastedyears (Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. - Optimus Prime)
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To: informavoracious
God bless them.

Indeed; I believe that He has  :-)

13 posted on 05/26/2008 12:00:19 AM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat
ALWAYS, ALWAYS!! LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF VERY OLD PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!!
In fact, listening to WISDOM is in and of itself, a form of WISDOM.

14 posted on 05/26/2008 12:22:03 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (Single-term "President OBAMA" will force an amazing REBIRTH of G.O.P. CONSERVATIVISM in this country)
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To: AmericanInTokyo

ALWAYS, ALWAYS!! LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF VERY OLD PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!!

In fact, listening to WISDOM is in and of itself, a form of WISDOM.

Essential words that should be heeded by all  :-)

15 posted on 05/26/2008 12:29:53 AM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat

Congrats to the Milfords on their 80th anniversary.


16 posted on 05/26/2008 1:10:57 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: Brad's Gramma

Thanks for the ping—neat story.


17 posted on 05/26/2008 1:32:06 AM PDT by beaversmom
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To: Stoat
Truly blessed is this delightful couple ... may Jesus Christ be Praised! Job 12:10 ~ “In His hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”
18 posted on 05/26/2008 2:51:54 AM PDT by Pegita ('Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word ...)
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To: Brad's Gramma

BTTT


19 posted on 05/26/2008 2:54:21 AM PDT by E.G.C. (To read a freeper's FR postings, click on his or her screen name and then "In Forum".)
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To: Stoat

First time I ever saw a couple look better in old age than younger. lol. I am sorry but that picture of them in 1928 is fugly!!!! They are a great couple though. How lucky for their oldest child 78 still have both parents...what a gift!!!!


20 posted on 05/26/2008 4:30:06 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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