‘Have a good sense of humour’– High Wycombe residents share secret to a happy marriage on 62nd anniversary

Love was well and truly in the air at a High Wycombe care home when two residents celebrated a very special milestone.  

William Pilbeam (Bill), aged 93, and his wife Patricia, aged 84, toasted their 62^nd wedding anniversary at Care UK’s Ridley Manor, in Lane End, where they both live, on the 18^th March.  

The pair met when Patricia moved to High Wycombe aged 17, and they were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend. They went to High Wycombe cinema and then went for a drink afterwards at a local pub. 

Patricia recalled: “Bill bumped into a friend at the pub and got talking for so long he forgot his date. Clearly that didn’t ruin the relationship!”

The couple hit it off right away and got married on the 18^th March 1961 at a church in Loudwater. 

The couple went on to have three children, Susie, Jon and Sarah. They now have three grandchildren, Natasha, Aaron and Noah.

When asked the secret to a long and happy marriage, Patricia said: “Having a joint interest and a sense of humour is important. You also need to make important decisions together.”  

To celebrate the special milestone, the team at Ridley Manor surprised the couple with a romantic meal, complete with a specially made anniversary cake. Residents and team members joined together to raise a toast to the happy couple. 

Estelle Adriaans, General Manager at Ridley Manor, said: “At Ridley Manor, we know just how important it is to celebrate all of life's milestones, no matter how big or small. We felt honoured to be a part of Bill and Patricia's special day. They are a beautiful couple with a wealth of knowledge about building a strong and happy marriage, which I believe we could all learn from.

“The nostalgic atmosphere in the home encouraged residents to reflect on and share happy memories of their own weddings. Bill and Patricia, happy anniversary! It was truly a day to remember.”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Ridley Manor incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The home provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia and respite care. 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.

To find out more about Ridley Manor please contact Paul Hodgson, on paul.hodgson@careuk.com or call 01494 853669 or visit careuk.com/ridley-manor