Bucks couple share recipe to 64 years of marriage

Bill and Margaret Norton celebrated their big anniversary with cake, bubbly and flowers on Tuesday February 8 at Woodlands Park Care Centre in Great Missenden.

Retired type-setter Bill Norton worked a long career at Bucks Free Press.

He was born in Poplar, London in 1931 and Margaret Norton in Kingswear, Devon in 1939.

Margaret Norton got flowers from her husband of 64 years Bill Norton

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Mrs Norton retold the moment the future couple met: “Bill worked at the local paper the Dartmouth Chronicle, after seeing a picture of me in the paper who was then Kingswear Carnival Queen and making the sash for me to wear decided to look me out, coming to a dance in the village hall in Kinsgwear.

“We courted for two years and married in 1958 in Kingswear.”

Mr Norton, who experienced an evacuation to Dartmouth, Devon as a child after the war when their London house was bombed, got a job at the Bucks Free Press after their wedding, and the duo made High Wycombe their new home.

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Mrs Norton shared their recipe for happy years together: “A long and happy marriage is having respect and trust for each other, holding strong family values, having a shared sense of humour and a love of country music.

Celebratory bubbly and rose embellished cake with 'Happy Anniversary' decoration

“We have had such a happy marriage doing everything together.

“There has been no bumps in the road.

“Look forward to sharing our time together, being with our children and family and friends.”

While Mrs Norton continues to live in High Wycombe, Mr Norton resides in Woodlands Park Care Centre in Great Missenden because of Advanced Dementia.

The youthful couple has three daughters, Sharon, Carol and Sally, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.