Sutton Coldfield couple celebrates remarkable 69 year anniversary milestone

A couple at a care home in Sutton Coldfield have marked a special anniversary – and shared their advice for a long and successful marriage.

Patricia (Pat) Daniel, a resident at Care UK’s Mercia Grange, on Lichfield Road in Four Oaks, and her husband, Colin, toasted their 69th wedding anniversary in style with a celebration at the home.

Their party included plenty of balloons, flowers, cards and a special cake made by the home’s talented head chef.

When asked for their secret to a long and happy marriage, Colin said: “I said yes to everything Pat asks me to – and keep quiet!”

Pat added: “Be caring to each other, be loving, and be considerate.”

The couple first met at Pat’s brother’s 21st birthday party. At the party, the pair crossed paths when Colin asked for a cup of tea – and Pat was the one who made it for him.

When asked about his first impression of Pat, Colin said: “I thought Pat was very caring after she made me a cup of tea on the first day of meeting.”

Pat added: “Colin was lovely and I liked that he didn’t drink alcohol!”

They began dating and enjoyed their first outing at a picture house on Soho Road in Handsworth to watch a film.

Colin soon proposed at a restaurant in Handsworth, and the pair tied the knot shortly after, in 1957, at St Michael’s Church in Handsworth on what they both recall as a “beautiful and hot day”. Their first trip as a married couple was a romantic getaway to Torquay.

The happy couple have now been married for 69 years and have three sons, Wayne, Gary, and David, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Michael McNelis, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “Pat is a much-loved resident here, and the love she and Colin have for each other 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. Pat and Colin’s bond is really special, so it was an absolute pleasure to help them toast their new milestone.

“On behalf of the entire team, I’d like to congratulate Pat and Colin on 69 years of marital bliss – we can’t wait to celebrate many more milestones with them.”

Mercia Grange is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The three-storey home, which features 67 en suite bedrooms, has been designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. It incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, including its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and the very popular Sadlers Café.