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

[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 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.’

 

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.

 

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.

[Stoat]

Mr G and I only have 43 more years to go to match that record!

It seems that when you're in love, such a span of time will be past before you know it.  :-)

Full steam ahead!

[Stoat]

Too bad about those hailstones.

Isn't that just terrible?  But of course it's all the fault of George W. Bush, Capitalism and Global Warming.....

More bad English weather history:

weather

Thousands dead	1703	November	27th	Throughout the country	Storms(2days)
Westminster Abbey struck	1831	August	17th	Westminster, London	Hit by 'electric fluid'
Widespread deaths	1903	September	10th	Southern England	Storms
Gales (100mph): 23 dead	1905	March	15th	Lands End, Cornwall	Storms
Children Dead (2,500 +)	1912	August	26th	London	Heatwave
Storm in Lancashire: 50 dead	1927	October	28th	Lancashire	Storm
Gales sweep England: 11 dead	1928	February	12th	All of England	Gales
Hurricane Winds 151mph: 26 dead	1929	December	5th	Throughout UK	Storms
Subzero temperatures	1947	Winter		UK	Temperatures
Sulphur dioxide fumes: 4,000 dead	1952			London	Smog
Caving disaster: 6 dead	1967	June	24th	Mossdale	Heavy rain
Two day storm kills:17	1987	October		South of England	Winds of 120 mph
Gusts of 110 mph: 45 dead	1990	January	25th	All Britain	Gales
Ferocious Winds115mph	1998	January	4th	All Britain	Storms

[Stoat]

Its our wedding anniversary too!! (Alkhin and "Mr. Alkhin"...)

Congratulations to you both!  WOO HOOO!!!!

 

[Stoat]

What a great story! Looks like they are still giggling like school kids when they hold hands.

I'm delighted that you've enjoyed the article.  They do seem to be retaining the best parts of life, don't they? 

And he was quite the handsome devil back in the 1920’s.

<<<  thinking that if a vivacious Cajun blonde lady FReeper thinks that Mr. Milford's pic is handsome, maybe the scruffy stoat isn't so bad after all?  Hope springs eternal...  "sigh"

(brushing down fur in a hopeless attempt to look halfway presentable)

[JustaDumbBlonde]

What a cute little weasel ... c’mere and let me scratch behind that ear! Apparently somebody realizes that I’m worse than Ellie Mae when it comes to critters. ;-)

[reagan_fanatic]

Wow - considering their age, they look absolutely wonderful!

My congratulations to the both of them!

[Stoat]

What a cute little weasel ... c’mere and let me scratch behind that ear! Apparently somebody realizes that I’m worse than Ellie Mae when it comes to critters. ;-)

"Making happy, contented and furry little noises as the nice lady scratches me"

-sigh-

[Stoat]

Wow - considering their age, they look absolutely wonderful!

I'm guessing that a lifetime filled with true love helps to keep a person young.

My congratulations to the both of them!

Indeed...hopefully their full extended family will follow their fine example.

Wow - considering their age, they look absolutely wonderful!

I'm guessing that a lifetime filled with true love helps to keep a person young.

My congratulations to the both of them!