A Stevenage couple who moved up from London almost half a century ago are set to receive congratulations from the Queen as they celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary tomorrow.
Stanley and Rose Gillard, both 84, married on March 10, 1956 at St Mary Magdalene Church in Islington, north London, near where they both grew up.
“I’m a toyboy,” Stanley joked – “I’m July and she’s May.”
The pair will mark the anniversary with their son Tony and daughters Valerie, Jennifer and Janet at a gathering in Stevenage next week.
“They’ve all been happy years – 60 years have just flown by, really,” said Stanley.
The couple decamped to Stevenage in 1969, aged 37, after finding it difficult to secure a home of their own in London.
Stanley, who had worked for a greeting card firm in London, got a job with a Hatfield printing company while Rose worked at Sunblest in Stevenage.
Tony, Valerie and Jennifer still live in Stevenage. Janet is now based in Letchworth, and another daughter, Susan, passed away some years ago. Stanley and Rose have 11 grandchildren in all.
Asked if they had any tips to give younger couples, Stanley said: “Rule number one is to remember there are two people.
“It’s no good if you’re selfish, you’ve got to work together and take care of one another.
“We’ve got a very happy marriage, nothing to complain about.
“If you’re a selfish person you’ll never get there. Work for each other – it worked very well for us.”
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