Carole and Dennis first met at Aston Technical College, where Carole was the only girl on their engineering course. Dennis made sure they were partnered together – and the rest, as they say, is history.
The couple married in 1960 in a simple church ceremony on a beautiful sunny day, surrounded by family and close friends, before celebrating with a small reception at their local pub.
Looking back over more than six decades together, Carole and Dennis say there is no secret to a long and happy marriage. For them, it is about wanting to be together, sharing life's highs and lows, enjoying their hobbies and continuing to love each other every day.
That same sense of togetherness was at the heart of their 66th anniversary celebrations at Colwall on 17th September. The couple enjoyed a seated ballet class with Nina before sharing a beautiful anniversary cake, made by Gregg in the kitchen, with residents and friends.
They also spent time reminiscing about their life together and continuing a special tradition. Each year, they bring out a treasured anniversary card and write a small message inside, creating a record of the years they have shared.
For Carole, being able to make those memories also means staying connected with the people who matter most. Earlier this year, the Colwall team supported her to travel to Worcester to see her daughter Jayne after a year apart.
Dennis said: “It was absolutely wonderful for them both to see each other again. They were making new memories together. It was fantastic.”
Supporting Carole to stay connected with her family and continue enjoying meaningful moments is an important part of life at Colwall.
And after 66 years together, the couple have some simple advice for other couples hoping to enjoy a long marriage: “Never argue.”
They believe in listening to each other's point of view, compromising and working through life's challenges together, while maintaining their independence and individual interests.
For Carole and Dennis, it all comes back to what has kept them together for 66 years – sharing life with the love and affection they had when they first met, while continuing to make new memories along the way.
