Our 60 years of wedded bliss

5:50am Wednesday 30th July 2008

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A COUPLE married for 60 years got an early understanding of the meaning of for better or for worse when their wedding day almost ended in disaster.

George and Joan Tree, of Point Road, Canvey, are set to celebrate their diamond wedding on Friday.

The pair met at a dance when George was on leave from the Army.

But three weeks before the service Joan’s wedding ring and all the money they had saved to pay for the wedding were stolen in a burglary.

Joan said: “It was terrible, the thieves threw my wedding dress across the room and stole a wristwatch of George’s that had great sentimental value as it was given to him by an old Army friend.”

The family pulled together and the couple had the wedding they had hoped for in August of 1948 at Canvey Island Catholic Church.

They were married by Father Manning, one of George’s Army friends who was stationed on the island at the time.

Although the wedding was saved their bad luck continued – and their wedding photos were lost by the developer.

Joan said:”We paid the money and got the proofs but when we went back to pick up the finished copies we were told they had been lost.”

Asked what the secret was to having a happy 60-year partnership, Joan replied: “I think to have a good marriage there has to be give and take” to which George added “Yes, I give and she takes.”