Surprise party to celebrate 65 years (From This is Hampshire)

Surprise party to celebrate 65 years

12:00am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News

STOCKBRIDGE couple Ben and Nancy Warren celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on 30 August with a surprise gathering with family members.

The pair have lived in the village for more than 31 years and have been active in the local community after moving there in 1971.

In 1946 at a Welcome Home Club event in Swindon, when Ben returned to the country after serving in the Royal Air Force, he and Nancy met for the first time.

They married a year later at St Dingats, New Tredegar in South Wales, Nancy’s local church, where she was also christened and baptised.

Ben enjoyed a career working for the Crown Prosecution Service, Hampshire Constabulary and still volunteers at Stockbridge police station today, while Nancy worked at local schools Stockbridge Primary and Test Valley before retiring.

They have three children, Chris, who lives in Australia, Geoff and Neil, who also lives in Stockbridge. Between them they have given them seven grandchildren who have gone on to bless them with great-grandchildren.

Both Ben and Nancy have been heavily involved with the Royal British Legion. Ben was chairman of the branch in Swindon and Nancy helped to reform the legion in Stockbridge.

Walking and dancing are and have been keen interests of the couple and they have enjoyed holidays all over the UK, to Portugal and as far afield as Australia.

So what is the secret to a lasting marriage?

Ben said: “Most importantly we are friends. Of course we argue sometimes but Nancy is usually right! It always works out in the end.”