Newport residents Jean and Basil Hill are celebrating an incredible milestone of 70 years of marriage – their very own Platinum anniversary.
The couple met as children when Basil worked as an errand boy and delivered 6 beers to Jean’s father each week. Basil proposed when Jean was 21 and they got married on 26th July 1952. They went on to have 2 sons.
On the morning of the wedding, Basil went for a walk along the prom at Colwyn Bay. He met a gentleman coming the other way who said “it’s going to be a good day then” and Basil replied with “I’ll say it is, I’m getting married”. The gentleman then gifted Basil with £5 by way of congratulations, and Basil has carried that memory with him ever since. In today’s money that works out to £160!
When asked what the secret is to a long and successful marriage, they both agreed that tolerance is key, that you need to find someone whose flaws you can live with and someone who fits with you.
Basil and Jean both enjoyed walking, cycling, going to the theatre and the cinema, and they say that finding someone who likes the same things as you is very important.
The Hills live at Orchard House care home where they enjoyed a private dining experience for themselves and their family on Tuesday. The happy couple received a letter from Her Majesty The Queen to officially mark the occasion – they also received cards on their 60th and 65th anniversaries.
Congrats both, I knew a boy Perry, used to live in Ryde decades ago now, is that his parents I wonder?
Congratulations May you have many more good times together
Congratulations to Basil and Jean, May you both have many more happy years together. Such a heart warming story and such a relief from an increasingly tumultuous world.
Congratulations , what a beautiful story .So nice to hear happy news that makes you smile .
Congrats to the pair of you