Hertfordshire care home residents share advice to young couples on diamond anniversary

 

Love was truly in the air at a Ware care home this week, when two residents celebrated a very special milestone.

78-year-old John Connolly and his wife 79-year-old Vivien, both residents at Care UK’s Snowdrop House, on Baldock Street, toasted their 60^th wedding anniversary at the home.  

John and Vivien have known each other since they were children, meeting whilst at nursery. The pair agreed that it was most definitely love at first sight and admitted to playing kiss chase on the playground whilst at Rye Park school. The pair later went on their first date aged 14 at the Haileybury Bop, a local dance.

On 20^th July 1965, John and Vivien married in a small intimate wedding at Rye Park Hoddeston.

Commenting on their wedding day, Vivien said: “It showered a little, but it didn’t stop us from having a lovely day.”

The happy couple have two sons, a daughter and six grandchildren, and are looking forward to celebrating their anniversary with family, friends and fellow residents.

A highlight of the couple's 60 years together is John’s trial to join Norwich football team in 1962.

When asked the secret to a happy marriage, Vivien said: “To be thoughtful about one another,” John added that his advice for younger couples is “to always think of each other”.

Clare Crow, Home Manager at Snowdrop House said: “We were honoured to celebrate this momentous occasion with John and Vivien.

“Here at Snowdrop House, we know how important it is to celebrate all life’s milestones, big and small. This was a very special day for John and Vivien, and we loved raising a glass to their long and happy marriage – 60 years is a huge amount of time and there’s lots we can learn from them about building a successful relationship.”

Snowdrop House is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia and short-term respite care. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.