Kay and Ted

Devoted couple Kay and Ted Lawes will be celebrating their 72nd Valentine’s Day together this year, as they gear up to mark their 70th wedding anniversary later this year.

The pair currently reside together at Hazel End home in Bishop’s Stortford, where staff are preparing to spoil them with a romantic ‘date night’ at the home’s top floor Sky Bar.

Kay and Ted were both 24 years old when they met during a chance encounter whilst holidaying separately with their families at Golden Sands holiday camp in Hopton-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, in the summer of 1948. 

The pair married just two years later in 1950 in Hornsey, North London, and then settled in the town of Harlow. Although Kay and Ted had both previously worked for the forces during the war, Ted went on to found a light engineering company, while Kay was a GPO telephonist and hairdresser. Kay then left work to raise the couple’s three children, Vanessa; Richard and Michael. Kay and Ted now have seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. 

Ted commented: “My best moments in life have been with my wonderful wife. I am so proud of her.  We have been through everything together, and watching Kay raise our family has been an absolute pleasure.”

The couple, who were the first residents to move into brand new care home Hazel End in December last year, are making the most of the facilities: enjoying regular films in the cinema and welcoming their friends and family to the vintage tea room.  

Home Manager, Allison Squires, said: “Kay and Ted are such a devoted couple, they are inseparable and are always smiling and laughing.  We are excited to help them celebrate and we are going to make this Valentine’s Day really special for them with it being their platinum wedding anniversary.  Ted has asked that we get some roses for Kay as they are her favourite – they are still very much in love and romance is definitely in the air here at Hazel End!” 

When asked about the secret to a long and happy marriage, Ted said: “Support – that’s what you need. My wife has supported me through everything, we are a team and that is what has kept us going through the years.”

www.halcyoncarehomes.co.uk/hazel-end

Victor and Glennis

Bristol-born twosome Victor and Glennis Holvey, both 93-years-old, have been married for an incredible 73 years.

The couple, who lived just two doors away from each other as youngsters, officially met at a local dance when they were both 17, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. They now live together at Brunelcare’s ABC Centre in their own self-contained apartment, with help on hand should they need it.

Meeting during the Second World War in 1944, Vic and Glennis admitted that they used to ‘spy’ on one another from their bedroom windows. The couple decided to marry in 1947 at St Anne’s Church, Brislington, Bristol, when Victor was on a home visit from the navy. Shortly after their marriage, Victor was once again deployed into the Navy where he served on and off for five years. After the war, Vic drove buses and coaches for 40 years and Glennis looked after her ever-growing family in St Anne’s. 

Glennis said: “I remember the night we met like it was yesterday. Victor had arranged a fabulous dance at Barton Hill- it was great! We danced all night together and then he walked me home, it turned out he was my neighbour I used to ‘spy’ on out my bedroom window.”

Vic said: “During the war I used to write letters to Glennis, I missed her very much when I was away, we’ve had an amazing life together and I love everything about Glennis. She’s my best friend and it’s an honour to have been married to her for so long. Now, we’ve finally settled down at Brunelcare’s ABC Centre and it’s great, we have help when and if we need it.”

The happy pair have four children, six grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild who visit them at the centre almost weekly. 

The love birds will be celebrating Valentine’s Day in style by attending the Extra Care Housing Site’s Valentine’s Day quiz.