U.K.: Trust Is The Key For Golden Couple

SWINDON, Wiltshire,
March 25, 2007:
Jim & Rita Ford
A couple, whose marriage has been based on good, old-fashioned trust, will soon be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

Jim Ford, 73, wooed Rita, 68, when they met roller-skating at the Majestic Dance Ball Room in 1954. Jim's motorbike impressed Rita when she met him at 15. She recalls riding with him on the back as one of her favourite memories.

The couple, who live in York Road, got married three years later after spending dates skating, at the cinema and motorbiking.

The grandparents-of-four wed on April 3, 1957, with about 30 guests at St Mark's Church, but were minus a bouquet.

"The mishap of the day was that I was one bouquet short," recalled Rita. "My uncle, who was doing the flowers had to make a new one. It was his wedding present to us.

"It was not so elaborate as the weddings we have now. We had the reception and that was it. There was no music or anything."

They spent their three-day honeymoon in Richmond, London.

But now Jim and Rita are opting for a Mediterranean setting to mark the date. They are flying to Sicily on Thursday for two weeks to celebrate 50 golden years together. They also went for a meal with their family yesterday to mark the occasion.

"We also had a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury with his photograph and he signed it himself, which was very nice," said Rita.

Swindon-born Rita worked as an assistant chef before she retired, while John, who comes from Gloucestershire, wired computers for a living.

"Trust is the secret to a good marriage," said Rita. Jim agrees. He believes compromise is also important. "It involves a lot of give and take and no jealousy," he said. "I never stopped her from going out with the girls if she wanted. They are good memories all the way through. We had ups and downs, but who doesn't? We've had good 50 years together and I have no complaints yet."

He said money was tight during their honeymoon period. "We had no furniture, no telly and no music when we got married. We had our rough times," said Jim.

The couple have four children - Andrea, 49, David, 47, Mark, 44, and Diane, 37. They also have four grandchildren.

© Copyright 2001-2007. Newsquest Media Group