Lifetime lovers Frank and Anita Milford have reportedly become
Britain's longest-married living couple after celebrating their 78th
wedding anniversary.
The pair met as teenagers at a dance in
Plymouth, southern England, in 1926 and married two years later.
Asked for the secret of their enduring union, Frank Milford, 98, a
retired dock worker, said: "We don't always see eye to
eye and we do have a small argument every day.
"But that comes and goes. We are always here for each other."
His 97-year-old wife added: "The key is give and
take and lots of laughter."
With their relationship as strong as ever, the couple hope to beat the
record for Britain's longest-ever marriage of 80 years, set by Percy and
Florence Arrowsmith. Percy Arrowsmith died last year.
"There's every chance we could break that record," Anita Milford said.
"These days marriages don't last long. A lot of people get married with
the idea that if it doesn't work out there's no worry, but we can't
understand that."
The couple, who lived in a bungalow in the St Budeaux area of Plymouth
until last year when they moved into a nursing home.
Elaine Clarke, a senior care assistant at the Warwick Park Nursing
Home, said of the couple: "It is very rare to see something like this.
They are always by each other's side."
Anita Milford was in bed for 10 days recently after falling ill and her
husband stayed with her the whole time, Clarke said.
"They are still very much in love."
The world's longest marriage on record is 86 years, set by two couples
-- Sir Temulji Bhicaji Nariman and Lady Narima in India and were married
in 1853 and US couple Lazarus Rowe and Molly Webber, who tied the knot in
1743.
(Agencies)