Couple celebrate 81 years together!
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by Mary Louis
Inseparable after 81 years, Lionel and Ellen Buxton are one of
Britain’s oldest married couples.
The Dover pair were born before the
Titanic sank in 1912 and have lived through two world wars.
Lionel survived many "narrow squeaks":
potentially nasty accidents at work and close shaves in war ravaged
London when he served in the Home Guard.
The Centenarian calls her beloved husband her "toy
boy", although he is due to catch her up on March 10 when he
reaches 100.
At 90, Ellen was diagnosed with bowel
cancer. Too old for chemo and radiotherapy, she survived the
operation against medical odds.
Lionel has had his own health
challenges, yet bright, chatty and dapper, they could be 20 years
younger.
Ellen said: "We don’t bother about
doctors if we can help it."
The Queen sends them telegrams
regularly – so far for their 50th, 60th and 70th wedding
anniversaries and for Ellen’s 100th birthday on September 9 2011.
Ellen, a royalist, is considering writing back.
The East End pair first met at Henley
Cable in north Woolwich. He was an apprentice engineer and she a
machinist, often needing his technical help.
They struck up a firm friendship and
started dating in 1930, eventually marrying on July 18 1936 at St
Margaret’s Church, Plumstead, honeymooning in Hastings.
"We could not marry before, we could
not afford it," said Ellen.
Her company would not employ married
women so she went to cook in a restaurant.
She can recall George V and Queen Mary
on the throne and the First World War.
Ellen said: "I remember sitting on my
dad’s window ledge and seeing a zeppelin on fire, although I was
far more scared of the doodlebugs in the second war."
Lionel was exempt from the Army and
travelled to different factories "to repair the damage done by the
Germans overnight."
They bought their first house, a
three-bed semi, for £699 on weekly wages of £3. Daughter Cyndy
arrived in 1949.
Ellen said: "The war and caring for
our own parents took a big slice of our life."
"We have never been apart, other than for work, and have never wanted anyone else" – Ellen Buxton
Lionel went on to work
for Crosse and Blackwell, later Nestle. He retired at 64 and after
seven years, the Buxton’s moved to Folkestone.
When Cyndy’s first husband Les died
unexpectedly, aged just 37, her parents played a crucial part
supporting her and her sons.
They have lived in sheltered
accommodation in Coombe Valley Road for 23 years, where they look
after themselves, with a carer once a week and support from
friends.
Ellen said: "We have never been apart,
other than for work, and have never wanted anyone else. We always
used to go out together. We have been married happily because we
have been good friends as well as husband and wife."
"It’s a good job I have got her, she
knows everything," said Lionel.
Favourite pursuits include bingo,
whist, cards, quizzes and reading. They keenly follow television
soaps and sport, including darts, snooker and football.
They will celebrate Lionel’s century
at home with friends, daughter Cyndy and her sons Leon, 38,
principal research scientist for Pfizer in Boston, Matthew, 36, who
works for Cancer Research, James, 21, a BAE systems engineer and
fitness instructor David, 20.
BLOB: Indian-born Bradford couple
Karam Chand, 106, and wife Kartari, 99, recently celebrated their
86th wedding anniversary.
Wednesday, January 25 2012
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