Worcester couple celebrate 75th wedding anniversary

Ruth and Vivian Poole were born in 1928 and live independently together

A couple who have been married for 75 years said they were proud to have a "very good family" of 19 people.

Vivian Poole and wife Ruth, both 95 and from Worcester, met through friends and tied the knot on 11 December 1948.

They live together independently and their family includes two sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Musical hits from their courting days in the 1940s were bought so they could be played at a celebration held on Saturday.

They met when the future Mrs Poole supported her friend who wanted to meet up with someone that Mr Poole knew.

Worcester couple’s ‘incredible’ 75th anniversary - BBC Sounds

Reflecting after the gathering of four, she wrote in her diary he was "horrible" and said that in his "broad Welsh, I just couldn't understand what he said".

But they got married in the city, with Mr Poole recalling that on the day it "started to snow, but it didn't come to anything".

He added: "It was a special day. We didn't want it marred with snowfall."

Vivian and Ruth Poole were married on 11 December 1948

One son, Donald Poole, said as a child it was "very clear they were close".

He stated: "I can always remember that dad would get home late from his job. Mum would go out working in the evening to get the extra money together.

"It was [the] post-war years and times were very difficult then, so they worked really hard and spent a lot of time grafting, so that my brother and I could have a good start in life."

Donald Poole said they had been "fantastic as parents", making their children independent

Speaking ahead of the celebration on 9 December, the retired former director said the family always tried now to gather annually at this time of year.

"It's unusual nowadays that we've got a wide family and some of them live in Bournemouth and Reading, but we all manage to get together."

Asked about why the marriage had lasted for 75 years, Donald Poole said: "They've always done things together, so they taught dancing right through until past dad's retirement."

He also said: "Despite what mum says about putting up with dad, she really loves him."

For her part, asked what she loved about her husband, Mrs Poole said: "Well, everything really. Putting up with me."

Speaking about family, Vivian Poole said: "I'm very pleased and proud and actually I think we've got a very good family.

"We're lucky because... they all get on so well together and that's the main thing in life - give and take."