Posted on 05/25/2008 10:55:16 PM PDT by Stoat
By Jaya Narain
Last updated at 2:45 AM on 26th May 2008
As with any married couple, there are times when Frank and Anita Milford don’t quite see eye to eye.
But they have never let the odd disagreement get in the way of their love for each other and their dedication to their marriage.
To prove it, Frank, 100, and Anita, 99, today celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary, equalling the record for England’s longest-ever marriage.
Frank and Anita Milford are celebrating their 80th wedding anniversary
They say the secret to a lasting marriage is to iron out your arguments before bedtime and share a kiss and a cuddle every night before bed.
Mrs Milford said: ‘It’s our golden rule. Couples these days don’t last long because they often don’t take enough time for each other.
'Our advice to young couples would be to make time for a little romance every day.’
Mr Milford added: ‘To win over your sweetheart you need a dose of old-fashioned chivalry and don’t let your standards slip. We do everything together even after 80 years.’
The couple met in 1926 and got married in 1928
The pair met in 1926 at a YMCA dance in their home town of Plymouth. They married two years later, on May 26, 1928, and after the register office ceremony popped to the cinema to catch a Charlie Chaplin film.
Shortly after they moved to a bungalow in the city’s St Budeaux district, where they lived until 2005. Mr Milford worked at Devonport Dockyard until retiring at 60.
The couple have two children, Marie, 78, and Frank, 73, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Mr Milford said: ‘We’re proud of what we have achieved. When we started we had low wages and worked very hard.
‘The war years were tough - a bomb even dropped on our house. But we have come
through it.’ Since moving to a nursing home, the couple have taken up a range of hobbies.
They have just received a letter from the Queen congratulating them on their ‘oak’ anniversary. Their 80 years together equals the English record set by Percy and Florence Arrowsmith of Hereford in 2006. Mr Arrowsmith died a fortnight after celebrating the anniversary.
Guinness World Records says the longest British marriage was that of Thomas and Elizabeth Morgan of Caerleon, South Wales, who were married for 81 years 260 days until her death in 1891.
The couple say the key to a happy marriage is to share a kiss and a cuddle before bed
Entertainer Bruce Forsyth is born.
Writer Thomas Hardy dies.
Heavy hailstones kill 11 people as storms sweep the UK.
Mickey Mouse appears in Steamboat Willie - the first cartoon with sound.
Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to successfully pilot an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean American actress Shirley Temple is born.
Traditional Conservative principles proven correct once again. May God Bless them and give them both many more years together.
PING
This really has NOTHING to do with Logan’s Ping List, but hey.
Isn’t this WONDERFUL???? God bless you, Mr. & Mrs. Milford!!! Would you look at them grinning? Those smiles are from their hearts. Toooooo nice....
And YOU, Missy...win. HANDS DOWN! ;)
Wonderful. Genuinely heartwarming. Thanks for the post.
I'm absolutely delighted that you've enjoyed it and have found it worthwhile. You're quite welcome :-)
Well....thank YOU for this thread. It is a breath of fresh air!
I’m STILL grinning, thinking of THEM laughing...
Ahhhhhh......ain’t true love grand???
You're quite welcome, and I'm delighted that you've enjoyed it :-)
I’m STILL grinning, thinking of THEM laughing...
Truly an image that touches the heart.
Ahhhhhh......ain’t true love grand???
The finest, most important force in the Universe, in my view.
WOW WOW WOW!
Hubby would have to make it to the age of 112 and me 106 to tie that record!
Whew..
I think we’ll just shoot for 75 years! ;-)
God bless them.
God bless them
My grandmother is 89 and can barely move.
Indeed; I believe that He has :-)
ALWAYS, ALWAYS!! LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF VERY OLD PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!!
In fact, listening to WISDOM is in and of itself, a form of WISDOM.
Essential words that should be heeded by all :-)
Congrats to the Milfords on their 80th anniversary.
Thanks for the ping—neat story.
BTTT
First time I ever saw a couple look better in old age than younger. lol. I am sorry but that picture of them in 1928 is fugly!!!! They are a great couple though. How lucky for their oldest child 78 still have both parents...what a gift!!!!
Love sweet stories like this!
Hubby and I will be married 33 years in December.
But sometimes it feels like 5 minutes...
...under water!
:)
Sweet story. Thanks for posting it.
Mr G and I only have 43 more years to go to match that record!
Amen.
Too bad about those hailstones.
WOW! A couple we know are celebrating their 70th this June and I thought no one could beat that. WOW! again.
God Bless them Both!! What a wonderful thing!!
And I'll betcha he'd STILL be a Hubba Hubba at 112. ;)
Congratulations to the both of you!!!
What a great story! Looks like they are still giggling like school kids when they hold hands. And he was quite the handsome devil back in the 1920’s.
Thank you!
OF COURSE!
Bump!
Let's hope they will be able to enjoy many more together :-)
Indeed...I think that if everyone were to listen to their wisdom, the world would be a far happier place. :-)
LMAO
Yes I'm afraid Mr. Milford looks slightly rumpled, doesn't he?
It just goes to show that oftentimes the most valuable gems are hidden in the most plain of purses. I can think of numerous spectacularly beautiful people I've known who have had absolutely miserable and oftentimes short marriages.
Hopefully all of their children and grandchildren as well as everyone who reads their story will follow their fine example in life.
I'm delighted that you've enjoyed it :-)
Hubby and I will be married 33 years in December.
Congratulations to you both!
But sometimes it feels like 5 minutes...
...under water!
:)
LMAO
Being a single stoat (sad sigh), I regret that can't come back with a meaningful rejoinder based upon my own experiences.
It seems, however, that you have found a way to breathe when you need to. I think that when General Patton found a solid, working plan, he wasn't one to change it for no reason. :-)
You're quite welcome! I'm happy that you've enjoyed it and have found it to be worthwhile :-)
It seems that when you're in love, such a span of time will be past before you know it. :-)
Full steam ahead!
Isn't that just terrible? But of course it's all the fault of George W. Bush, Capitalism and Global Warming.....
More bad English weather history:
Thousands dead |
1703 |
November |
27th |
Throughout the country |
Storms(2days) |
Westminster Abbey struck |
1831 |
August |
17th |
Westminster, London |
Hit by 'electric fluid' |
Widespread deaths |
1903 |
September |
10th |
Southern England |
Storms |
Gales (100mph): 23 dead |
1905 |
March |
15th |
Lands End, Cornwall |
Storms |
Children Dead (2,500 +) |
1912 |
August |
26th |
London |
Heatwave |
Storm in Lancashire: 50 dead |
1927 |
October |
28th |
Lancashire |
Storm |
Gales sweep England: 11 dead |
1928 |
February |
12th |
All of England |
Gales |
Hurricane Winds 151mph: 26 dead |
1929 |
December |
5th |
Throughout UK |
Storms |
Subzero temperatures |
1947 |
Winter |
UK |
Temperatures |
|
Sulphur dioxide fumes: 4,000 dead |
1952 |
London |
Smog |
||
Caving disaster: 6 dead |
1967 |
June |
24th |
Mossdale |
Heavy rain |
Two day storm kills:17 |
1987 |
October |
South of England |
Winds of 120 mph |
|
Gusts of 110 mph: 45 dead |
1990 |
January |
25th |
All Britain |
Gales |
Ferocious Winds115mph |
1998 |
January |
4th |
All Britain |
Storms |
Congratulations to you both! WOO HOOO!!!!
I'm delighted that you've enjoyed the article. They do seem to be retaining the best parts of life, don't they?
And he was quite the handsome devil back in the 1920’s.
<<< thinking that if a vivacious Cajun blonde lady FReeper thinks that Mr. Milford's pic is handsome, maybe the scruffy stoat isn't so bad after all? Hope springs eternal... "sigh"
(brushing down fur in a hopeless attempt to look halfway presentable)
What a cute little weasel ... c’mere and let me scratch behind that ear! Apparently somebody realizes that I’m worse than Ellie Mae when it comes to critters. ;-)
Wow - considering their age, they look absolutely wonderful!
My congratulations to the both of them!
"Making happy, contented and furry little noises as the nice lady scratches me"
-sigh-
I'm guessing that a lifetime filled with true love helps to keep a person young.
My congratulations to the both of them!
Indeed...hopefully their full extended family will follow their fine example.
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