Stansted care home residents share secrets to a long, successful marriage on diamond anniversary

 

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

86-year-old Brian Reeves and his 81-year-old wife Catherine, both residents at Care UK’s Mountfitchet House, on Coltsfield, toasted their 60^th wedding anniversary at the home.  

Brian and Catherine first met at a youth club on the tennis courts of Cottesmore RAF in 1959. Catherine's initial impression of Brian was that he was “a very nice man”. Although her father was protective, Brian won him over, and the couple were married at a church in Ilford on 12^th September 1964.

Commenting on the occasion, Catherine said: “The day was lovely and one to remember forever.”

The happy couple have three children together, and their favourite memory from their marriage so far is a tour of Ireland in the 80s where they watched the sun go down in Galway Bay, just like the song by John Whitehead.

When asked the secret to a happy marriage, Brian said: “It’s all about love.”

Catherine added, “It’s about respecting your friendship and loving each other through the good and bad.”

To celebrate the special milestone, the team at Mountfitchet House held a special lunch for the couple in the home’s pub.

Joanna Duke, Home Manager at Mountfitchet House said: “We were honoured to share this momentous occasion with Brian and Catherine.

“Here at Mountfitchet House, we know how important it is to celebrate all life’s milestones, big and small. This was a very special day for Brian and Catherine, 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.

“Happy anniversary, Brian and Catherine!”

Mountfitchet House is a state-of-the-art care home which 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.