Fareham couple celebrate an '˜easy' 65 years of marriage

With champagne flutes in their hands, Betty and Joe Futcher, residents at Gracewell of Fareham, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary surrounded by their family and friends.Â
Joe and Betty were joined by Laurie Clarke (far left) and their family.Joe and Betty were joined by Laurie Clarke (far left) and their family.
Joe and Betty were joined by Laurie Clarke (far left) and their family.

The couple, who have lived at the home together since 2016, celebrated the landmark occasion with sandwiches, delicious cake and celebratory drinks, as they toasted to many more years of happy marriage together.

Betty, 87, and Joe, 88, first met as teenagers in Camberley after the Second World War. The couple clicked straight away and wed in Surrey. They went on to have a son, Ed, and a daughter, Gill, and four wonderful grandchildren '“ many of whom attended the special event.

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Making the day even more special for couple, they were joined by Laurie Clarke, an old friend from Joe's army days, who has kept in touch and has been a great friend to the family.

Joe and Betty on their wedding day in 1953.Joe and Betty on their wedding day in 1953.
Joe and Betty on their wedding day in 1953.

Joe joined the army shortly after the Second World War and later joined the Surrey Police force where he worked for more than 30 years, before taking up a role with Surrey County Council. Betty worked for the local newspaper in Farnham in Surrey, and she retired with her husband in the early 1980s.

During their happy retirement, the couple have travelled all over the world, visiting countries far and wide, including the United States to see their son Ed and two granddaughters.

Betty believes that love and marriage should be fun, and that's how you know you have found the one.

'˜The past 65 years with Joe have been easy,' says Betty, '˜we never say a bad word about each other.'