Hospital visit led to wedded bliss
A couple who first met over a hospital bed are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.
Glenis, 78, and Jim Waterfield, 84, who live in Rowley Regis, marked 60 years of marriage today.
The couple, who met while visiting family in hospital in 1959, married two years later in St Hilda’s Church, Warley, and had their reception at Bleakhouse School.
Glenis said: “We didn’t have a honeymoon as times were hard but we made up for it with lots of lovely holidays since.
“One year we went to Malta where we met two friends, Sue and Steve, who are from Warrington, and we have been friends ever since – that was 16 years ago.”
Jim worked at Rover in Longbridge for 28 years and Glenis at an engineering firm for 25 years. The couple have one son, Andrew, one granddaughter, Gemma, and three great-grandchildren, Alexis, Amelia and Jaden.
Before the pandemic struck, the couple used to attend Ashes Road Conservative Club where they met their friend, Violet Haynes.
Violet said: “We used to go line dancing together, play bingo and Jim would play snooker. He is a big lover of sport. They are the most wonderful couple, I hope they have a very happy anniversary.”
The couple’s plans to celebrate have been put on hold due to the pandemic, but Glenis said she is excited to have a party with family, friends and neighbours when restrictions ease.
She added: “We have missed our social lives due to the pandemic but we have stuck to the rules and are looking forward to getting back out there.
“I can’t see there is a secret to a long marriage, other than balancing each other’s temperaments out.
"You have one another, when we got married it was for better for worse, in sickness and in health, you have to work at it. You have your ups and downs but you work through it.”
