60 red roses to mark 60 years of marriage for Tring couple

A couple from Tring celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last week with 60 red roses.

James Brian, 82, and Evelyn Brenda Grufferty, 79, celebrated 60 years of marriage on Thursday, and their daughter, Sarah Jane Hannaseth, shared a picture of the red roses her dad buys her mum every year - each year he has bought the same number of years in red roses.

She said: "We are so proud of our parents, they celebrate 60 years of marriage today, 20th August. Each year since their first anniversary my father has bought the same number of years in red roses.

"My father (and my brother at times), get up in the early hours of the morning to drive from Tring to Western Market to be in time for their opening, so early he still arrived home with time to curl up in bed for a couple more hours. That's devotion for you.

"Dad often says he’d be nothing without my mum and mum says her life changed to so much better when she met him. She says it must be fate to meet that right person out of millions.

"My husband and I joined the family for a small gathering via Skype (we live in Kristiansund-N, Norway) on Wednesday afternoon with decorations and cake. That was fun to be involved with, even though we are so far away."

The couple got married at St Mary Magdalen, Willesden, in 1960.

On Thursday, James and Evelyn had a fabulous evening meal in King's Head, in Ivinghoe. The couple had planned a cruise to celebrate their special anniversary, but it was cancelled because of COVID, so they will try again next year.

James said: "I was lucky to find the right girl."

Evelyn added: "I would do it all again with the same man."