THEY’RE surely one of the longest-married couples in the entire UK, let alone Cheshire.
But Winnie and Herbert Fletcher from Frodsham are still going strong as they celebrate their 73rd wedding anniversary this month.
Throughout their marriage, the couple, who have lived at the village’s Heathercliffe Care Home since January this year, have seen a World War, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the first man on the moon and the invention of colour television, computers and mobile phones.
After meeting at a Frodsham picture house where Winnie says she ‘caught Herbert’s eye’, the world today is completely different to how it was when the Fletchers got married at St Laurence’s Church in Frodsham on June 15, 1940.
War had been declared on Britain just months earlier, and the pair were relieved to find Herbert would be exempt from serving thanks to his job as a foreman at British Insulated Callender’s Cables (BICC).
Instead, Winnie and Herbert, now aged 96 and 98, settled in Frodsham to begin their married life, later welcoming a daughter, Glenda, now 67.
Decades later, their marriage is still going strong – all thanks to arguing!
“You don’t exactly fall out with each other but there’s no harm in having a few little arguments,” said Winnie.
“The secret is a bit of give and take.”
The couple, who have no grandchildren, will mark their special day with a barbecue at Heathercliffe, surrounded by all their family and friends.
“Hopefully we will have nice weather for it. I wasn’t that interested in having a do but Herbert insisted we had a little party to celebrate,” added Winnie.
The record for Britain’s longest marriage is currently held by Karam and Kartari Chand, from Bradford, who have been married for 87 years.
