It will be all smiles in Marlow on September 4, as a couple from the town will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.
Cliff, 90, and Nora Hampshire, 94, tied the knot on that day in 1954 and have remained very much in love since.
They plan to mark the occasion with a blessing at St Peter’s Church in the area, which is the same venue where they tied the knot seven decades ago.
Roughly 40 people will be in attendance, with many being friends and family.
Mr Hampshire, who is a retired electrician, told the Free Press: “We renewed our vows for our 60th anniversary 10 years ago, so this is a blessing.
“Of course, we have had many ups and downs and have had a few arguments, every couple, especially those are who are married.
“But it’s important that you make up because time just flies.
“I recently heard that the average time for a marriage in this day and age is 12 years, which is very surprising.
“We’ve been content and happy in that time with some bad years here and there, where we have lost loved ones, but we’ve had a happy marriage during that time.”
The love story began 70 years ago when Nora travelled from her native Ireland to England to attend her sister’s wedding as a bridesmaid in Henley.
Upon her visit across the Irish Sea at the age of 19, she got herself a job at the Henley Management College, and ‘never left’, according to her daughter, Bee.
During her time at the education establishment, she was acquainted with apprentice electrician Cliff, who allegedly said that her soon-to-be wife had a ‘smashing pair of legs.’
And after plucking up the courage to ask Nora on a date to which she accepted, they began to court before getting married in September 1954 – the same month
Their daughter, Bee, said: “They got a telegram from Queen Elizabeth II for their 60th anniversary and they should be getting one from King Charles III this year as well.
“My grandma Pat organised the wedding, and after they had their ceremony at St Peter’s, they had their reception at the Crown Hall in Marlow.
“The ballroom is still there as it’s a listed building, and in the evening, they were taken away on the Marlow Donkey stream train.
“I don’t know where they were taken to, but they had a banner that was put on, had myself and my two brothers Sean and Michael, and have been together ever since.
“It’s some achievement to be married for 70 years, so hats off to them.”
As well as having three ‘amazing’ children who have been described as ‘God sends’ by Mr Hampshire, the couple also have six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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