‘Give and take’ – couple married for 64 years reveal their secret

Home news

Mar 03, 2021

A couple at a local care home shared the secret to a long and happy marriage after more than sixty-four years together. 

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the team at Care UK’s Oakfield Croft, on Oakfield, encouraged Frank, 87, and Stella, 85, to reminisce about their early days as a couple as they revealed the secret to a long marriage – to give and take.

On the big day, the home’s chef has planned a special Valentine’s meal, featuring Gravadlax roses topped with chive cream as a starter, followed by roast lamb chops served with dauphinoise potatoes, alongside a redcurrant jus and roasted Mediterranean vegetables. Frank and Stella were also treated to a strawberry cheesecake with wild berry coulis and a triple chocolate brownie with its rich chocolate sauce for dessert.

When asked which advice she’d give to young couples, Stella said: “Stick with it through thick and thin, good and bad times.”

Daniel Cole, Home Manager at Oakfield Croft, said: “Frank and Stella are a love story for the ages – they’re truly inseparable, and we could all learn a thing or two from their long-lasting marriage.

“We thought Valentine’s Day was the perfect opportunity to encourage them to reminisce while treating them to a special romantic meal. It was great to be able to organise a special ‘date night’ for them. 

“Love truly is in the air at Oakfield Croft, and many of the residents have also been reminiscing and sharing fond memories of their own wedding days; it was lovely to hear their stories too. We’d like to say a big thank you to Frank and Stella for their wise words – their ‘give and take’ philosophy has certainly given us food for thought.”

Frank, a RAF veteran and former mechanic, and Stella, a former short-hand typist and school secretary, met at their local youth club when they were teenagers and have been together ever since. They married in 1956 in Sale, and have three children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A keen footballer, Frank said his favourite thing about his wife were her cooking skills.

Oakfield Croft has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The new care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities, as well as facilities like a cinema, coffee shop and hair salon.

For more information on Oakfield Croft, please contact the Customer Relations Manager Jayne Eyre on jayne.eyre@careuk.com or call 0161 820 4019.  

For general information about Care UK, please visit careuk.com/oakfield-croft