An Ipswich octogenarian who told her future husband to “get lost” when they first met in Felixstowe in the 1950s is celebrating her diamond wedding anniversary with him this week.
John and Queenie Harvey, of Tyrone Close, Ipswich, first met at Charlie Manning’s arcade in Felixstowe in 1956.
John had been there with friends while Queenie, who originally lived in Lowestoft, had been on holiday visiting her aunt.
But despite Queenie not showing much of an interest on their first meeting, the couple celebrate 60 years of marriage on August 24.
“We just started chatting and she told me to get lost,” John, now 81 said. “But she has still got me 60 years later.”
The couple soon got to know each other, and would regularly see each other in Lowestoft or Ipswich.
“I thought the world of her,” said John, a retired lorry and bus driver.
“I used to go to Lowestoft or she used to come to ours.”
They never got formally engaged, but married a year after they met on August 24 1957 at Ipswich Registry Office.
Queenie, now 83, moved to Ipswich in 1957 and worked for Cromptons making meters before joining G&M power.
The couple went on to have two daughters – Lyn, 59, and Heather, 56, and a son Kevin, 53.
To mark the special occasion they will be celebrating with family and friends at Pauls Sports Club on Saturday – including the couple’s eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren – the first time in three years the whole family will be together.
John said the secret to their successful marriage is “give and take” and as with any couple have had their ups and downs.
Queenie added: “If anyone has been married that long and doesn’t have a harsh word to say once in a while they are lying, but we have always shared everything and got a good family.”
Daughter Lyn said her parents are role models for her and her family.
“I have been married 39 years myself and my children are both married so it’s something to look up to and we hope we can achieve the same,” she said.
Queenie concluded: “I just want to thank all of our family and everything they have done for us – I hope they all last as long as we have!”
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