ONE LONG HONEYMOON

Northern Advocate, 27 December 1934, Page 9

ONE LONG HONEYMOON

BRITISH DARBY AND JOANS, THEIR SECRETS OUT. • Twenty old couples representing a total of more than 2500 years of married life were given the ti’eat of their lives at the Wood Green Gaumont Palace, London, recently. They had their fill of. beer and sandwiches, shook hands with Betty Balfour, and saw the programme, which included “My Old Dutch.” There were Mr and Mrs Westbrook, apple-cheeked, merry, openly affection-, ate. “We’ve been married only 40 years',” he apologised. “If we hadn’t had to wait for each other so long it would have been nearer 60. ; I’m 74 and my sweetheart 73. Lovely, isn't she? No, we didn’t have a honeymoon. “I left her at the church and told her to go straight home like a good girl. It’s been one long honeymoon ever since.” These two had not a pound when they married. Now they own their house, and their “bonny girl” of 21, who has been crippled since her birth, is not going to be dependent on anybody “when we pass over." Then there were Mr and Mrs Cox. married 57 years. They have 24 grandchildren, and neither could remember

how many “greats.” The second longest married pair were Mr and Mrs Barker.

“Fifty-six years it’s been, and not one too many, as they say.” said Mrs Barker, “Would you like to see my marriage lines? Here they arc.” “Mother's 74 and me 78,” put in her husband proudly. “Jackie, our eldest, is 49.”

Mr Barker is a retired coachman. He “joined up” at 58 and served throughout the war “among the ’osses.”

Mr Cobden, who has spent GO years laying bricks, married his wife 5G years ago. They were wearing brand new white silk scarves, a gift from their daughters in Australia. The Cobdens have 13 children, 10 grandchildren and two great grand children. Among the 42 happy, wrinkled faces were those of: Mr and Mrs Bredcn, married 44 years and still “going strong.” Mr and Mrs Cooper, cared for by their “baby daughter” of 4G, . Mr and Mrs Melville, with 11 children and 15 grandchildren, and ; "proud of them all.”