Couple celebrate lifetime of happiness

GET me to the church on time! That was the cry from Jack Lord 50 years ago when he had a mad dash to the altar to meet his future wife Gena Zagni.

Jack was in the Infantry Regiment in Bury St Edmunds when he got married and was expecting a 48-hour pass. But at the last moment this was cut short leaving Jack with a mad dash to Ipswich.

"I did not get my pass until midday and I was getting married in Ipswich at 2.30pm. I managed to catch a ride with an American truck and I made it by the skin of my teeth," laughed the 83-year-old.

The couple first met when Jack was 17 and Gena was 13 and they have stayed together from that moment on wards.

The couple married on April 6, 1942, at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Woodbridge Road, and both said their secret to a long and happy life is appreciating all they have.

"We have a wonderful family and great friends and this is all we could wish for. A good sense of humour and living by the rule that everything is ours and not his or hers has stood us in good stead.

"I had a major heart attack at the same time that Elvis Presley died, although while he stayed down I got up," laughed Jack.

"But I am still going strong and enjoying married life."

Jack worked on the railways as a bricklayer for nearly 45 years and Gena worked in her father's general store on Lindbergh Road catching four buses a day to get to and from work.

Today they enjoy the little things in life like gardening at their home in Norwich Road and spending time with their family. This includes their daughter Julia, four grandchildren and great-grandson.

Their son Richard has been living in Canada but is coming home to visit very soon.

"We are really looking forward to seeing Richard and when he gets here we will celebrate our anniversary again with all our family," said Jack.