WEDDED OVER 63 YEARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

WEDDED OVER 63 YEARS

LORD AND LADY RUNCIMAN ROMANCE OF LONG LIFE CABIN BOY TO SHIPOWNER Nearly 64 years ago two very young people were married in the little fishing village of • Cresswell, Northumberland. After a two-days' honeymoon tho bridegroom left to join the sailing vessel of which he was mate. Their married life, during which the young sailor roso rapidly in the world, was one long romance. Death lias at last brought it to a close. The bride of long ago was Lady lUmciman, wife of Lord Runciinau, and mother of Mr. Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade. Sho died at her home, Shorcstou Hall, Northumberland, in February, at the age of 85. Only live days previously her husband, who received his peerage in the NewYear's Honours List, took his seat in the House of Lords. If sho had lived until March 26 she would have celebrated tho 61th anniversary of her wedding. The married life of Lord and Lady Runciman, says the News of the World, can only bo described as idyllic. Only a short time ago Lord Runciman declared that it had " not been a day too long." On the occasion of their diamond wedding he said that he and his wife were " sweethearts still." Lord Runciman was a youth of 21 when ho paid court to Ann -Margaret, the elder daughter of tho late Mr. John Lawson, of Blakemoor, Northumberland. He describes his courtship in his autobiography, " Before tho Mast and After." " The aunts with whom Miss Lawson lived," Lord Runciman states, " were old and had a strong prejudice against

young people ' courting,' as they called it. Consent to correspondence with their niece was refused until she and I had arrived at an age when they considered our minds were disciplined." Lady liunciman played a great part in the triumphs of her husband, who began life as a cabin boy. She watched him become a master mariner, a shipowner controlling a fleet of 150 steamers, a member of Parliament, a knight, and finally a baron. Mindful of his own happy experience, Lord liunciman always advised young people to marry early. " When you have made a suitable selection and are confident you are going to be associated with a partner who looks at life in common with yourself, an early marriage is desirable," he declared. "My decision to take upon myself the responsibilities of a husband was due to the fact that I had been brought up with a young lady whom I knew

well, and whose family I also knew thoroughly. She came of good Scottish and Northumbrian stock, and since that great day at the church we havo worked well together. " .[ havo never expected knowledge from her of the subtle phases of trade and commerce, hut my wife lias carried out all the household affairs, and lias managed that part of the business splendidly. She, like myself, has never spent beyond her means. We have never borrowed, and we have saved every shilling we could after our comforts have been considered. " We are life-long total abstainers, and the whole of our family are the same. We have never known what it was to have intoxicating drink in our home."