Salisbury care home couples reveal 124 years of relationship wisdom this Valentine’s Day

 

“Hold your tongue” and “agree to disagree” was just some of the top relationship advice shared by couples at a care home in Salisbury when they enjoyed a very special Valentine’s Day celebration.

Love was in the air when the team at Care UK’s Salisbury Manor, on Shapland Close, arranged a special celebration for two couples living at the home. Everyone was encouraged to reminisce about their early days together and reveal their secrets to a long and happy marriage. 

The heart-warming afternoon, which was dedicated to love, laughter, and lasting relationships, had each couple filled with excitement as they were dressed to the nines to enjoy champagne, and a three course meal which had been thoughtfully prepared by the home’s Head Chef, Louise Wheatley.

Adding to the ambience of the event, the dining room was filled with heart-shaped balloons and there were rose petals scattered on the tables. 

Joining the celebrations were residents Barbara and Ray Thomas, who have been married for 68 years. They knew of one another through a friend of a friend, but were properly introduced in 1954 at Ray’s cousin’s wedding, which is where their love story began.  Their first date was at a beauty spot in Hereford, where they sat and chatted to get to know each other. Just two years later, the couple married on 23^rd June 1956 at St. Martin’s Church. 

Together they have three children, Richard, Venetia and Lucy, who often visit them at the home, and the couple made many cherished memories throughout their lives. 

Reflecting on their marriage, they both stressed the importance of give and take and said that they “always agree to disagree to resolve an argument.” Barbara said that one piece of advice she would give to young couples is to “hold your tongue, marry the right chap and think it through first” - while Ray’s advice is to “talk, be kind and listen.”

Also joining the special celebration was happy couple Jennifer and Michael Hibbert, who live together at Salisbury Manor. They shared the serendipitous details of their very first meeting on Jennifer’s last day of school in 1966, at a leaving party in Dover. Jennifer was only invited at the very last minute, while Michael wasn’t invited at all, but instead gate crashed the party, and the wheels of fate were set in motion.

Jennifer started a two-year bilingual course at the French Institution in London, whilst Michael was already residing in London during his business studies course. 

Just two years after their romance started, the couple tied the knot in Dover, on 5^th October 1968. Together have two children and three grandchildren, who visit them often at Salisbury Manor. 

When asked what their advice to young couples would be for a long and happy relationship, the couple said: “Make sure to love and respect each other, be honest, and most of all, have fun!”

Skye Williams, General Manager at Salisbury Manor, said: “Barbara and Ray and Jennifer and Michael are much loved residents here at Salisbury Manor and we should all take their advice on board for our own relationships. It was great to be able to organise a special ‘date night’ for them. I’d also like to say a special thank you to our wonderful chef for creating such a fantastic menu for the evening.  

“Love is most definitely in the air, and it’s been wonderful to encourage so many of the residents to reminisce and share fond memories from their own marriages and relationships. Many wise words were spoken that have certainly given us food for thought. 

“We’d like to say thank you to all the happy couples for sharing their stories.” 

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Salisbury Manor incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies. The home provides full-time residential dementia, and nursing care, as well as short-term 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, and the home has its own cinema, café and hair and beauty salon.