A couple who have been married for an impressive 75 years have revealed the loving gesture that led to their impressive marriage. When Jean was 19 she met her husband-to-be Derek Heywood at a dance.
She was on a work night out, when the couple caught each other's eyes and began talking. Derek worked as a serviceman, and people in his role were allowed into the dance for free.
Derek was an army man, and had some time off so went to visit his family in Hazel Grove, Manchester. But his trip back home changed the course of both of their lives forever.
Jean said: "He walked me home that night and the next day he appeared outside work as I'd told him where I worked and he waited for me to come out. And we started from there.
"After that we wrote to each other whilst he was in the army. Then when he came out of the army after three and a half years he came back home, and we got married."
The couple, who are now both 96, recently celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary in the care home they both live in. And their love is stronger than ever.
Jean told the Manchester Evening News: "We are happy together and always have been. We love each other. We don't agree on everything but we agree on that.
"After all these years we're not going to change now are we? I'm not going to throw him out now."
The couple has two daughters, two grandsons, and four great grandchildren. They say the secret to their long-lasting marriage is never going to bed on an argument.
They tied the knot on January 31, 1948 and say they've had both good times and bad times in their marriage. Speaking about their wedding day, Jean said: "We had no money so my ring only cost four pounds and it was only 9 carat. But it's still there on my finger."
The food they served at the reception was limited, and they served ham with salad and an apple pie. This was due to 'terrible' post-war rationing, Jean said.
The following day, they went to Llandudno in North Wales for their honeymoon. Jean said: "Every meal we had prunes and custard for pudding as there was no food. They were bad years after the war but we got through them."
After getting married the couple lived in a rented room in Heaton Moor and then with Derek's grandparents in Chorlton before getting their own place in Offerton where they lived for 50 years.
The couple have had to deal with tragedy during their life, losing their daughter Barbara Ann in 1970 aged 33 when her two sons Stuart and Anthony were young boys. "We had a terrible time then, awful" Jean said. "But it passes you know."
They now have four great-grandchildren who are regular visitors. Jean who has mobility issues and Derek who is hard of hearing recently moved into Brinnington Hall Care Home where they have rooms next-door-but-one to each other.
They celebrated with cake and fizz at a party at the home over the weekend and again had visits from their family on the day itself on Tuesday. Asked how she reflects on 75 years she said: "I can't believe it's been that long. The years go so quickly. From 60 onwards it's gone very quickly.
"We're very lucky. Even though we're not altogether fit, we manage. We are lucky to be here together, at this age. Whatever comes in the future we are lucky."
Asked what the success to their marriage was she said: "Just plodding on day by day really. We've worked hard. We had to at the beginning as there was no jobs.
"We had a house, a rented house it had one tap, cold water. Nothing else to heat with other than your cooker and an outside toilet. You had to live like that. I don't know if many people could cope with that now.
"But over the years we have had lots of nice times. We've argued at times, doesn't everybody? But we've woken up the next morning and nothing was wrong.
"That's the best way. If you argue at night, don't get up with it the next morning. Don't sulk for a week. Just forget it and get up as if it's a new day. Things are never always perfect you have to accept that."
Though the couple say their anniversary began in the perfect way as they opened a card from Buckingham Palace with a message of congratulations from King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla.
It said: "My wife and I were so pleased to hear that you are celebrating your seventy-fifth wedding anniversary" and offered them 'warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on this happy occasion.'
They previously received a card from the late Queen Elizabeth on their 65 wedding anniversary, which sits pride of place in a frame in Jean's room.
