A HANMER couple celebrating their Diamond Wedding anniversary next week say the key to a long marriage is respect for each other.
Pauline and Richard Tinsley will celebrate six decades of marriage next week, having married in 1964 - with a clipping from the Herald a reminder of the date.
Pauline, one of three children, moved to Hanmer when she was 10 while Richard, who was fifth of 14 siblings, has lived in the village for his whole life, having been born and christened next to the Mere.
READ MORE: 'Glued together by family' the secret behind 60 years of marriage for Whitchurch couple
They married on October 3, 1964 – both aged 20 – having started courting in two years previously when Richard declared that Pauline ‘will be my wife one day’ when visiting her parents.
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Richard still drives his tractor at Little Hall Farm in Bettisfield aged 80 while Pauline retired two years ago, aged 78, as a senior cook at Penley Hospital.
They have three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and the pair says that family is everything to them.
Richard says he enjoys working and ‘I know to get out from under Pauline’s feet’, and she explained how they came to be together at 18 despite knowing each other from their first day at Hanmer Primary School.
Pauline added: “We went to Richard’s sister’s wedding at Hanmer Hall and we had to go to the village pub for something.
“People thought we’d been canoodling because the back of Richard’s shirt was hanging out but he had just been scruffy.
“Aside from overnight stays in hospital, we’ve not spent a night apart in our lives and we never go out separately – we always go out as a couple.”
Richard said: “I’m as much in love with her now as I was with her 60 years ago – I wouldn’t change her for anything.”
Pauline added: "I love him more now than I ever did.
“We don’t argue – we discuss things like adults and that’s been the key to it, having that level of respect for each other.
“We help each other and not because we have to because of health, but because we want to and because we’re in love.”
The couple were quick to agree on their proudest achievement – their family.
Pauline said: “That’s because we have brought up children who have turned out to be very good people.”
Richard added: “Pauline has done a brilliant job.”
She continued: “ I have helped raise my grandchildren when their mothers went to work and I still look after my great-grandchildren too.”
They both agreed on the best advice for people setting out in marriage 60 years on from their own special day.
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“We never go to bed cross with one another,” said Pauline.
“And Richard always gives me a kiss when he leaves the house and I do too when I go out.
“And he brings me a cup of tea in the morning which certainly works.”
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