'Caring and sharing' is West Midlands couple's key to long lasting love story and 65-year marriage
'Caring and sharing for each other' is this West Midlands couple's key to their lasting love story resulting in them celebrating their blue sapphire milestone.
Beryl and Thomas Askey, who live in Yew Tree on the Walsall-Sandwell border, met on Boxing Day in 1958 at Station Street Club in Walsall. The happy couple, who were both born in Walsall, tied the knot 65 years ago on December 17, 1960 at Christ Church in Blakenall Heath after getting engaged on May 23, 1959 when Beryl was aged 16 and Tom was aged 21.
Beryl, who grew up in Goscote and attended Croft Street School in Birchills, says:"I wore a traditional white dress and Tom wore a dark coloured suit. Our wedding day was very cold and foggy. I remember seeing both our dads at the back of the church and having a sip of whisky at the end of the ceremony.
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"We've been married for long time because we're care for each other and we share things. We look after each other and out family.
"I think young people could learn from our example."
After the big day the couple set up home in Tong Street, Chuckery, in a one-up one-down terraced house before moving to Queen Mary Street, in Palfrey, to be closer to relatives as Tom grew up in that area.
Tom, now aged 88, was born in Pleck and attended Hillary Street School.
When they first got married he worked as a fireman on the railway while Beryl worked at Walker’s Bacon Market, in Stafford Street, in Walsall. Later they were both employed by Walsall Council where Tom worked as a plasterer for 28 years and Beryl worked sheltered housing warden for 33 years before retirement.
They have two daughters Catherine and Jayne, grandsons Mark, Thomas, David and Jonjoe and two great grandsons, Roman and TJ whom all live in the Walsall area.
They celebrated their blue sapphire wedding anniversary with a party attended by about 90 guests at Wednesbury Rugby Club, in Woden Road North, in Wednesbury, after being unable to have a 60th anniversary event in 2020 due to the pandemic lockdown.
Among the cards they received this time was a telegram from the King.
Tom says: "We had a card from Queen Elizabeth for our diamond wedding anniversary five years ago and this time we had a card from the King. We hope to get one from Prince William when he is crowned king in the future so we'll have one from all three."
Beryl also marked her 83rd birthday on December 15. Over the years the couple have enjoyed many holidays including family trips abroad to Ibiza, Benidorm, Tenerife and Cyprus, along with coach holidays in later life.
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