“Stay stubborn for each other” – Thame couple marks 68th anniversary

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

Ronald Orr, a resident at Care UK’s Cuttlebrook Hall, on Stock Road, and his wife Olive toasted their 68th wedding anniversary with a special meal at the home. 

The pair first met at a local dance when Olive was 17. At the time, she declined to go out with Ronald, but a friend of hers decided to set them up anyway.

“Ron was quite the charmer,” Olive said when asked about her first impression of him. “He had the right attitude to life, and he was a strong character.”

They began dating and met again at the same dance hall after Olive returned from a holiday, where they exchanged their first kiss. They married shortly after in 1959 in Parish Church in High Wycombe – “the best day of our lives”, according to Olive – and moved to High Wycombe, where they lived for 62 years. 

When reflecting on their early days together, Olive said: “Ron was always generous. He first gave me a locket, and I put a picture of us in it. He was always buying me jewellery. He once got me a gold ring – which he’d stolen on holiday!”

Never apart for long, Ron and Olive decided to move to Thame in 2022, their love remaining intact.

“I love everything about her, she is perfect,” Ron said, while Olive confessed her favourite thing about her husband is his patience.

“Ron was fiery when he was young,” she said, “but he would always stick to something. Once he had a job to do, he would stick to it until he was doing it perfectly – he’s so determined. And I know I can always rely on him.”

When asked for their advice for young couple today, Ron and Olive agreed on three things: “Stay stubborn for each other, love each other always, and remember a good relationship requires give and take.”

Alana Corr, Home Manager at Cuttlebrook Hall, said: “Ron is a much-loved character here at Cuttlebrook Hall, and his devotion to Olive is inspiring to us all. 

“Moving into a care home shouldn’t mean the end of celebrating life’s special moments, whether it’s a big birthday or an anniversary. Ron and Olive’s bond is really special, so it was an absolute pleasure to be able to help them toast their new milestone.

“On behalf of the entire team, I’d like to congratulate Ron and Olive on 67 years of marital bliss – we can’t wait to celebrate more milestones with them.”

Cuttlebrook Hall is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The home incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies and includes its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub.