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Tuesday 9 June 2015

What's The Secret to a Long and Happy Relationship? - Elderly SweetheartsTogether For 84 Years Reveal Secret To Successful Marriage

Thomas and Irene Howard
Two sweethearts who have been together for an astonishing 84 years have credited "respect and good manners" as the secret for their success.
Childhood sweethearts Thomas and Irene Howard have been inseparable since they became best friends in 1931.
Living just four doors from each other, the only time they parted was when Thomas was called during World War Two, aged 19.

The happy couple wed in 1945 after V.E. Day and have just celebrated their platinum 70th wedding anniversary, Thomas aged 93 and Irene 91.
What do you believe is the secret to a long and happy relationship? Tell us via the form below
CavendishThomas and Irene Howard
True love: Thomas and Irene Howard, from Preston, Lancs, have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary
Thomas, said: "Throughout our lives together we have only shown each other respect and good manners and I think of lot of youngsters could learn a lot from that.
''When I was a lad I was always taught to respect women and if you saw a female in the street or one of your teachers, you automatically tipped your hat to them otherwise you would be in trouble.
“At school our old headmaster use to say: ‘If I ever find out one of you didn’t raise your hat to a female, you’re not having one hand, you’re having two.’ I was taught what to do and I stuck by it.
''I just wish it could have been passed down the generations. Recently I saw a lady in the street and raised my hat to her like usual but six boys began laughing at me.
CavendishThomas and Irene Howard
Wedded bliss:The couple's wedding day (l-r) Best man Jack Wood, Thomas, Irene, Hilda Lancaster and Tom McKernan
“All I was doing was showing respect and as far as I'm concerned that's what these lads should be learning at school - but sadly they don't seem to learn that now.
"It's all about getting the best marks in exams which is a pity because good manners doesn't cost anything and makes you a more rounded person. If you’re not taught good manners you don’t know what they mean to people.
''I've always respected Irene - she’s been my lifeline. I may have been wrong on certain issues and so has she but we always make up by the end of the day.
"We’re still in love all these years on. I still have her now and I’m proud of her - if I was fortunate enough to do it all again I’d marry the same girl every time.”
CavendishThomas and Irene Howard
Man and wife: The pair have been inseparable since they met in 1931
The couple, from Longton, near Preston, Lancashire, met when Thomas’ grandmother moved four doors away from Irene’s family home and became friendly with her brother Frank.
Thomas, a retired microphone operator, said: ''I would go regularly go round to Irene's house to call for Frank so we could out to play but Irene’s mother got fed up of me turning up day after day. In the end she joked ‘it’s not our Frank you want it’s Irene’ and she was right.
''I was only about nine then and when I first saw Irene I thought 'what a lovely girl', she’s going to be my girl this one and my fondness for her grew since then.
''We would go out out walking together in the local parks and became inseparable best friends. Later we would go to the cinema and see films starring Clark Gable and would sit in the back row holding hands.
CavendishThomas and Irene on their Wedding day
Happy ever after: Thomas and Irene on their Wedding day, June 2, 1945
''One day she brought her brother with her one day and I played merry hell with her, joking ‘I’m not having this’. It's just you and me. I told her we were together and we would be together for life and that’s how it stood. ''
Thomas served a private in the Lancashire Fusiliers and was called up aged 19 in 1941 to help care for troops injured on the frontline, When he came home he proposed and celebrated their engagement at a pub before marrying at St Matthews’s church, Preston and later buying their first house for £750.
CavendishThomas and Irene Howard
Hats off: Thomas and Irene credit "respect and good manners" as the secret for their success
The couple didn’t have any children but have two nieces, Debbie and Jane, who look after them.
He added: “I nearly fell out with a friend over Irene but I liked the opposition. The other lad said that Irene was going to be his girl but I said no she isn’t – she’s my girl.
"Even though we both loved the same girl we were still good pals. She was very bonny girl in her younger years – she still is now of course she is.”
Retired lollipop lady Irene said: ''Being polite and having good manners has been an important part of our lives. We've thought the world of each other.''
Thomas and Irene Howard
Via - Mirror

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