Making the best of the ups and downs together for 65 years
Making the best of married life’s ups and downs has been key for one local couple, as they celebrate 65 years of marriage today.
John and Janet Hart, 88 and 87 respectively, were wedded on 28 March 1959 in Chingford in Essex, having become engaged in Switzerland on 25 September 1955.
They first met at a Scout hut in Wickfield, also in Essex, when they were teenagers.
‘John walked into the hut in his scout uniform covered in badges and I thought “I don’t like that”, he was so smart and superior-looking,’ Mrs Hart said.
Mr Hart, who spent many years in the Scouts before joining the Royal Navy when he was 18, said he had been at the hut in order to serve the local community.
‘You progress from being a Scout to a senior Scout to a Rover, and part of being a Rover is to provide some sort of service.
‘I presented myself in what I thought was appropriate dress, but clearly it was a bit over the top.’
Their first date was at the pictures a couple of years later.
‘John asked me to go with him, so I did and he did pay for my seat, but he made me buy him an ice cream when I only had enough money to buy one,’ Mrs Hart said.
The couple then spent time apart while Mr Hart served in the Caribbean as part of his stint in the Royal Navy.
Mrs Hart was working in London, followed by a brief period in Switzerland working for the Swiss Youth Hostels Association.
‘During my last two weeks in Switzerland, John took a train from London to come and see me,’ she said.
‘In my last week there we went to Lucerne, which is where he proposed, and I accepted.’
Following the couple’s small wedding in front of family four years later, they followed Mr Hart’s new job as a sales manager and moved around the country, living in places including Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey and Devon.
They retired to Guernsey in April 1995, and still live in the same house at Icart in St Martin’s.
‘The move was better than anticipated, we came as strangers but joined lots of clubs and things, and everyone was so friendly,’ Mrs Hart said.
‘We both still help out with Meals On Wheels, while Janet does Scottish country dancing and I play golf when I can, you’ve just go to throw yourself into things,’ Mr Hart added.
They are celebrating their blue sapphire anniversary today at La Barbarie Hotel.
‘We have two children, four grandchildren and two great- grandchildren, but most of them live in the UK, so we will just be with friends which will still be nice,’ Mrs Hart said.
The couple added that, as well as making the best of life, tolerance was also key to a successful marriage.
‘You’ve just got to get on with it and live it, and make the vessel secure,’ Mr Hart said.
