Never too Old for Love - Britain's Oldest Married Couple
With a combined age of 177 they stood hand in hand in front of the registrar and said ‘I do’ in front of their family and friends along with flashbulbs exploding all around them from the worldwide news media.
Peggy Clark and James Mason became Britain’s oldest couple to get married and had known it was love at first sight when they met for the first time a mere 4 weeks previous and when James proposed to Peggy only 3 days after they first met.
The bride wore a white satin dress with a plunging neckline and a fake fur stole. Flat shoes with tiny embroidered flowers (Peggy commented on how comfortable they were) and a borrowed tiara with a blue handkerchief finishing off her complete wedding outfit.
The new Mrs. James Mason told the Sun newspaper that the day she walked into her local designer bridal boutique and announced she wanted a dream white gown for her big day, there was she recalled a shocked silence from the shop assistants.
Peggy added that "They all stood with their mouths open - I think they thought I was away with the fairies. One of the assistants showed me some of the beautiful dresses, but I said I couldn't afford them on my pension”.
"Then they showed me a sale rail and there was the most beautiful satin dress with plunging neckline and fake fur stole. It was £300, a size ten and I loved it."
She pauses and frowns. "I did hear a snigger as I walked into the changing rooms, but I thought: "You wait, madam, until I come out of the changing room, and then you'll see."
"Sure enough, when I walked out everybody stood and stared - there were other young brides in the shop and everyone loved my dress.
"When I got home, I threw my arms around James and said: "I know I am 84 years old, but on our wedding day I am going to be your princess."
The Groom was dressed in the same suit he had worn years ago when he met the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Peggy’s journey to the register office was in a vintage Jaguar and she walked down to meet her new husband to be to the music of her favorite song by Boyzone’s - No Matter What.
Peggy says: "We both got a bit tearful listening to the words, because it seems to sum up our romance perfectly. It is all about love surviving no matter what the odds."
Love at First Sight over Lunch
The couple had met at a local day care center in Paignton in Devon and their love blossomed over their easily digestible stewed pears and custard puddings.
"From the moment I first looked into his lovely, twinkling blue eyes, I found myself having the strangest feelings," she says.
"It was as if my whole tummy was turning around. I just wanted to hug him and hold him. Later, he admitted that the same thing had happened to him. It was love at first sight - it just took a whole lifetime to happen”.
This was the first day that Peggy had gone to the day centre after she rang Age Concern to tell them how lonely she was and they suggested I pop into my local day centre for lunch to meet others. Nervous as she was, she went along and after one of the volunteers sat her down the man next to her shook her hand and said ‘Do you come here often?” one of the oldest lines in the world made Peggy laugh and relax.
He told her that he came to the day centre every day and mentioned the lunch was grand for the price of £3. When asked if she was lonely, Peggy replied that she was ‘very lonely’.
To which, James took her hand and replied "Peggy, there's no need to be lonely." I looked into his twinkling blue eyes and suddenly it was as if those fireworks had gone off inside.
The very next day James wasted no time in making a phone call to Peggy and started the conversation off with the words ‘Hello, my darling.” They then arranged to meet up again and have been inseparable ever since.
On the day of their wedding, they arrived at the register office to find television crews from all over the world along with the local mayor and his entourage. News of their intended marriage had spread and the couple’s story had knocked Victoria and David Beckham out of the headlines overnight!
Since their wedding, the couple are still buzzing with excitement after being invited to appear on breakfast television and meeting Fern Britton who is one of Peggy’s favorites.
James Needs His Afternoon Naps
The couple have relished every moment of married life. James adds with a smile: "Well, you have to at our age, don't you? I tell Peggy I love her all the time. Sitting together with a nice cup of tea is just wonderful - although I am quite tired at the moment and I need my afternoon naps."
Peggy, a little less reserved, throws her arms around her diminutive husband again, and adds: "We were interviewed by Spanish radio this morning. They rang and said live on air that the whole of Spain wanted to know how our sex life is. I said “Fantastic!" and the presenter went wild."
James did away with the age old tradition of carrying his bride over the threshold because he felt he was not strong enough and did not want to injure his back.
Just goes to show that you are never too hold for love and it can find you in the least likely time of life – may they have many happy years left together.
