By Isle of Wight Observer
A Newport couple has celebrated 70 years of marriage.
Mary, 90, and John Clarke, 95, met purely by chance in 1953 at a dance hall in Ryde. John was on holiday and went to hang up his coat in the cloakroom where Islander Mary was working that evening, and they have both described the moment that they set eyes on each other as love at first sight.
The relationship blossomed during the rest of the holiday and they were married in Nottingham in March 1954, which they cite as their most romantic moment. They raised three sons, Paul, John and Alun.
John had a successful engineering career, retiring in 2002. In April 2015 the couple decided to move to the Island,
They were joined by friends, family and staff at their home at Avondale sheltered housing, where they they have lived since June 2023, to enjoy a buffet and a platinum anniversary cake, made by housekeeper, Lynn Walsh.
When asked about the secret to the longevity of their loving relationship, Mary and John said that it was founded upon “happiness, understanding each other, and having both common and separate interests.”
