Godalming couple reveal secret to 61 years of marriage

A Godalming couple have celebrated a remarkable milestone – and shared their advice for a long and successful marriage.

John Short, a 93-year-old resident at Care UK’s Broadwater Lodge on Summers Road, and wife Pat marked their 61st wedding anniversary with a special celebration.

The pair first met at a ceilidh – a traditional Scottish gathering with music and dancing – in Middlesborough in 1964, when John was 31. For John, it was love at first sight, and Pat was swept away by his caring nature. 

Upon discovering that Pat once joked she would marry the first man who bought her an orchid, John seized the opportunity at a New Year’s Eve party and surprised her with an orchid corsage – a memory they still cherish today.

The couple married in Saltburn-by-the-Sea in 1965, just one year after meeting.

While reflecting on their early days together, Pat said: “We’ve continued to enjoy each other's company, but keeping up our own separate interests has been the true secret to our marriage.”

John was a keen mountaineer in his younger years, going on annual mountain walking holidays with friends to France, Spain, and Italy. While Pat found joy in gardening, fitness, and flower arranging.

John joined a prestigious club for mountaineering called The Yorkshire Ramblers as well as the Cleveland Mountaineering Club. The couple used to drive up to the Lake District and meet for walks and climbs, creating many lovely memories.

To celebrate their anniversary, the home organised a special meal where the lovebirds were surrounded by balloons and decorations, and John gave Pat some beautiful yellow flowers.

John said: “I’ve always had a deep love for Pat, and I think the secret to our marriage is saying ‘yes’ to whatever she wants!”

Pat added: “I’ll never forget when John bought me a necklace with a mini abacus on. The moveable counters were diamonds, and it came with a gift card saying, ‘I can always count on you’. We’d counted the pennies for many years, so this meant everything.”

The pair now enjoy spending time with their child Helen, and continue to cherish the memories and adventures that have shaped their life together.

Angela Bookham, Home Manager at Broadwater Lodge, said: “John has such a gentle, joyful spirit, and the bond he shares with Pat is truly heart‑warming. You can see just how much comfort and happiness their relationship brings him. Whenever Pat visits, she lights up the whole home – her warmth, her kindness, and the laughter they share are a joy for all of us to witness.

“Celebrating their 61st wedding anniversary feels incredibly special. The love, care, and tenderness they still show one another is a beautiful reminder of what a lifelong partnership can be. We’re honoured to share this milestone with them.”

Broadwater Lodge, rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, provides residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The home has been designed to deliver the very best standards while enabling residents to lead active and fulfilled lives, and it has its very own hair and beauty salon, bar and library.