A special milestone was recently celebrated at a Nottinghamshire care home as Roland Fox, aged 91, and his wife, Dinah, aged 83, marked their 65th wedding anniversary with a card from the King and Queen.
Roland, who lives at Rusticus Care Home near Cotgrave, and his wife Dinah, who lives locally, tied the knot in 1960, since raising a family and living a long life together.
The couple’s love story began when they met at a rock and roll club when Dinah was just 15 years old. They were together for two years before Roland proposed. Dinah recalls how Roland casually suggested marriage one evening: “As we were saying goodnight, he casually said, 'I think we should get married,' and I agreed.”
Dinah and Roland were married on September 24, 1960, at a church near their home in Essex. Their wedding day began somewhat unusually with Roland and Dinah caring for their farm animals before heading to the church for a ceremony followed by a meal in the local village hall. Dinah’s favourite moment of the day was saying "I do," and the couple’s adventure began as they set off for Stanford and an undisclosed location the following day.
The happy couple went on to have two sons, two granddaughters, and now have three great-grandchildren aged 16, 10, and 5.
Reflecting on the secret to a long and successful marriage, Dinah shared: “Never go to bed on an argument, talk to each other, and have respect and tolerance. And the secret to winning an argument? Trying to compromise.” When asked for advice for newlyweds, they shared a bit of wisdom: “Don’t imagine it’s all plain sailing. No one is perfect, you have to have a bit of give and take.”
To mark the special occasion, the couple received a letter from the King and Queen, a gesture they described as “very special” and a highlight of their celebrations. On the day of the anniversary, Dinah visited Roland at Rusticus Care Home, where the team presented them with a beautiful cake.
The team at Rusticus Care Home joined the couple in celebrating their love and commitment to each other, a beautiful reminder of the enduring bonds of family and marriage.
Lucy, co-founder and director of Church Farm Care group, which operates Rusticus, said: “It’s such a fantastic milestone to reach as a married couple, so we were delighted to be a part of their celebrations. And it gave us the opportunity to learn even more about Roland, who lives with us at Rusticus and his lovely wife Dinah who visits most days. We wish them every happiness.”
For more information about Church Farm Care Group visit www.churchfarmcare.co.uk.