A COUPLE whose love affair began with a Valentine’s Day card celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary on Wednesday.
Florence and David Ray marked 70 years of marriage at their Stevenage home joined by their three daughters, Jennifer, Gillian and Lindsay.
The couple met in 1938 and became an item after David sent a Valentine’s card on behalf of his cousin, only for Florence to take a liking to him.
The February 14 tradition has continued ever since, with David proposing to Florence a year later before they married in London on April 3, 1943.
After World War II the couple relocated to Scotland before moving to Stevenage in 1958, where they have remained.
David, 93, and Florence 90, of Torquay Crescent, were keen bowls players, and only gave up the sport last year after two decades on the Stevenage greens.
Daughter Lindsay said: “They have always lived a very full life and have been very family orientated. They had a real reinvigoration of life when my kids were born, helping to look after them, and my dad says that has kept him young. The anniversary is a major thing for both of them.”
The couple’s six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren helped them celebrate over the Easter weekend.
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