'Working things out' is key to success
“I guess you just have to work things out together.”
That’s they key to a long and happy marriage, according to Zena Tookey of Whissendine, who celebrated her diamond wedding anniversary to husband David, on August 16.
“It’s about give and take and he was always very good at helping around the house and with the children,” said 82 year-old Zeba.
“Basically give and take and help each other.
“Anyone who says they can get through 60 years of marriage without an argument has got a boring marriage!”
The couple were married in the Catholic Chapel at Exton Park on August 16, 1958.
Zena, who was born in Timmins in Ontario, Canada, but moved in with relatives in Coventry in July 1955.
She trained as a nurse at what is now the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel and visited her cousins in Whissendine every six weeks.
It was on one of these visits that she meet David in December 1955.
“They tell me that I first met him at the pub in Oakham Market Place - there was an office party and the secretary for his office lived in Whissendine.
“The secretary introduced me to him and I just said ‘next time your up, are you coming to the dance’?”
The couple spent weekends together dancing the night away at the Victoria Hall in Oakham. They moved to Whissendine after they were married.
David, born and bred in Exton, worked as a planning officer at Rutland County Council for 43 years and was chief planning officer for part of that time.
The 88 year-old is suffering from metastatic prostate cancer and is currently being nursed at the Rutland Care Village.
The couple, who have five children, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary surround by close family and friends at the care village.
The received a card marking the occasion from the Queen which took pride of place amongst all the other cards.
“It was quite a thing [receiving the card],” said Zena.
“The postman came and said ‘you’ve got an important piece of post.
“David was chuffed with it too.”
Since David retired 29 years ago, the couple have travelled all over the world to countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Cyprus.