Bilton couple set to celebrate 80 years of marriage

A couple who fell in love as teenagers will become one of Britain’s longest married couples when they celebrate 80 years of marriage this summer. 

Roy and Freda Ward, who are both 98, met at the age of 17 when they both worked at the Dorchester Cinema in Hull. Freda was an usherette and Roy was second projectionist and was also responsible for changing the batteries in the usherettes’ torches. 

Speaking from the couple’s home in Bilton, Roy told the Stray Ferret:

“I always made sure Freda had the brightest torch!” 

Freda said: 

“We would always try to get the same day off, and when we did, Roy would take me for a fish-and-chip supper. It was lovely.” 

A year after meeting, they planned a June wedding, but the Register Office was bombed, so they had to wait three days, before finally tying the knot on July 1, 1943. 

Even when called up to the Royal Navy, Roy carried on as a projectionist with the Entertainments National Service Association, showing films at military bases throughout England. Following demobilisation, he took up plumbing, but carried on working as a projectionist in the evenings.  

The couple owned shops in South Cave and Ferriby, Hull for years, before eventually moving to Harrogate in the 1980s, where they opened a greengrocer’s and delicatessen, RP & F Ward, on Skipton Road. 

Following retirement, they have kept busy; Freda was going to the local gym until she was 95, and still exercises on her rowing machine, and Roy, a keen chef and bread-baker, only stopped driving last month. 

The couple, who plan to celebrate their oak wedding anniversary with family, have three children, Michael, Roger, and Lesley – now all in their 70s – as well as three grandchildren and a great-grandson. 

Asked what the secret to a long and happy marriage was, Roy said: 

“I’ve no idea – I can’t put my finger on it. But we’re happy, so whatever it is, it must work!” 

Freda was more certain. She said: 

“We just love each other. We get on wonderfully well, and we never quarrel. We always discuss things first before doing them, so that we know we’re both happy with it. It just works. We’re very happy.”

The Wards are thought to be Harrogate’s longest-married couple since Starbeck couple Ron and Beryl Golightly celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary in February 2021.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the average marriage is expected to last for 32 years. Just 16% of marriages reach their 60th wedding anniversary; the figure for the 80th anniversary, although not provided by the ONS, will be far smaller. 

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Starbeck couple celebrate 80 years of marriage

When Ron and Beryl Golightly married in 1941, the Second World War was raging and Winston Churchill was Prime Minister.

Eighty years on they are still together and have two daughters, six grandchildren and 11 great and great great grandchildren.

Ron and Beryl married at St Andrew’s Church in Starbeck on January 8 1941, during Ron’s active service as a member of the Grenadier Guards Armoured Division. They still live in Starbeck.

Mrs Golightly described the key to a long and happy marriage as “give and take”. She added:

“We fell in love very young and are still in love in our old age.”

Their big day didn’t go entirely to plan. Ron was forced to apply for a special marriage licence as his army leave was cancelled twice due to the war.

They were left with no best man, so a passer-by had to step in. Luckily he happened to be one of Ron’s friends.

The pair later welcomed two daughters, Margaret in 1942 and Sue in 1945.

Ron and Beryl Golightly with their daughters

Ron and Beryl with their daughters Margaret and Sue in the 1950s.

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The keen Harrogate Town fan spent his time working as an HGV driver when he wasn’t in the crowd at Wetherby Road on match days.

Ron celebrated his 100th birthday in March last year. Unfortunately, the pandemic meant the planned party had to be cancelled. Instead friends and neighbours stood in the street to sing Happy Birthday.

Ron Golightly aged 17 in uniform and on his 100th birthday.

Ron aged 17 in his uniform (left) and celebrating his 100th birthday indoors (right).

Beryl, 98, worked as a shop assistant in Harrogate and was an active volunteer for St John Ambulance. She was the first person in Harrogate to teach first aid in schools.

Beryl received a St John Ambulance award after saving a woman who had collapsed and stopped breathing in Harrogate Conference Centre.

Their celebration was marked by a card from the Queen, the pair’s fourth having already being sent cards for their 70th and 75th anniversaries and Ron’s 100th birthday.

The 80th year of marriage is traditionally marked by oak gifts. The couple received an oak heart crafted by one of their son-in-laws and a wooden bowl with a ha’penny bit dating from 1941.