November 2, 2018 11.13 am This story is over 63 months old

‘Our 65 years of happy marriage’

They have revealed the secrets to a long happy marriage

A Lincoln couple have shared their story of romance spanning more than six decades.

Robert and Georgina King met when they visited a roller skating rink in North London in 1947 called Alexandra Palace, or “Ally Pally.”

They quickly arranged to meet up for a second time at Petticoat Lane Market on the Sunday, but Georgina never showed up.

“Sunday came and it was pouring with rain so I didn’t go,” explains Georgina.

“We didn’t have phones so I couldn’t let him know. The following week he said he turned up and I hadn’t. So he asked if we could try again.

“Now I can’t remember what happened, I think I overslept or something and I didn’t turn up to that one either. I did turn up for the third date. Third time lucky and look at us now.”

The couple’s romance only grew from there and they got married in 1953, but couldn’t afford much while the country was rationing.

After living in London for thirteen years watching films and the cinema, shows at the theatre and some of the all time greats like Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Judy Garland, they decided to move away.

The happy couple on their wedding day.

Georgina said: “Our love for travelling has taken us to many countries and began in the late 1950s. We had a lovely bright red scooter that we travelled across the continent on.

“We have so many favourite memories from travelling to the likes of China, Sri Lanka Borneo, South Africa, India, Thailand and Malaysia that I could not pick one.

“Unfortunately at our age and the poor health of Robert, we can’t venture far but have a great like together.

“We have had a great social life in the past with good friends and we have been blessed with good health most of the time, so we have no regrets.”

The couple moved to Cherry Willingham in 2000 to live in a bungalow, where they still live now.

Cutting the cake on their wedding day.

Around three years ago, Robert’s health began to deteriorate and was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

He has never smoked in his life, but it is thought that his time working in a munitions factory caused the disease. Robert has now been diagnosed with bladder cancer and dementia.

Robert became a patient at the St Barnabas day therapy and now has a hospice at home treatment.

Georgina said: “Fortunately we still have regular contact with all the lovely helpful staff and volunteers from St Barnabas who have supplied him with useful equipment and are a great help to me as his carer.

“We both look forward to our regular visits and don’t know where we would be without their support.”

When asked to the secret to a long happy marriage, Georgina said: “We have alway been able to laugh together we have had a happy life together, and we have never had any major problems.

“Robert has always been very easy to get along with, he has always been the maintenance man of the pair and I have always done the secretarial side of it.”

She adds whilst looking at Robert: “Always remember to laugh together.”