One of Britain’s longest-married couples celebrated 80 years of love with a special surprise honour.
Ray and Win Booth, aged 102 and 101 respectively, have reached their remarkable platinum wedding anniversary.
They met in 1943 and married in August 1946 after their romance began with letters exchanged across the Atlantic during the Second World War.
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Ray was serving with the RAF in Canada when a fellow serviceman introduced him to his sister Win in England as a pen pal.
After the war, the pair finally met in person and went on to marry.
Now their love has been honoured at Bupa Norewood Lodge Care Home in Portishead, Somerset, with a new lounge named after them, as reported by Need To Know.
Their daughter Caroline, fellow residents, staff and Councillor Paul Gardner, Chair of Portishead Town Council, joined them for the celebrations.
The care home’s chef, Nick Thick, recreated the couple’s two-tier wedding cake, decorated with white icing and red roses, while a pianist played their favourite tunes.
The room was decorated with bunting, balloons, fairy lights and cards, while the local Help for Heroes team donated 80 balloons and a certificate to mark the milestone.
But the biggest surprise was still to come, as Ray and Win were invited to cut the ribbon officially unveiling the newly named ‘Winray Lounge’.
The revamped space features a small kitchenette and coffee machine, a new TV and double doors designed to improve wheelchair access for residents and their guests.
An oak plaque bearing the name ‘Winray Lounge’ has also been installed permanently.
Ray said: “We’re very flattered to have the lounge named after us.”
“Be warned – we may be putting a collection box at the door and charging an entrance fee for those wanting to use the space.”
When they first saw each other, Win recalled: “I thought cor, isn’t he tall!”
Ray’s first impression was: “Isn’t she lovely.”
He knew Win was the woman for him when they had a formal tea with her parents.
“I knew she was the one for me when we had a formal tea with Win’s parents, but it was too formal for me, so I threw a handful of jelly at Win.
“Win’s parents thought ‘oh no’ and Win threw some back at me.
“They could see we were well suited.”
Ray and Win went on to have a daughter, Caroline, and now have a granddaughter, Jenny.
The couple moved to Clevedon, Somerset in 1961, where they discovered a shared passion for performing arts.
They became active members of both Clevedon Opera Club and The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, with Ray serving as chairman of both organisations.
The societies became a major part of their lives and gave them decades of happy memories.
Asked to reveal the secret behind their enduring marriage, Win simply said: “Love.”
Ray added: “I just do as I’m told.”
Pamela Arnsmeyer, Home Manager at Bupa Norewood Lodge, commented: “Ray and Win’s love story is truly inspiring.
“Since they moved into Norewood Lodge a couple of years ago, it has been wonderful to witness their devotion to one another; they’ve built such an incredible life together across eight decades.
“We feel privileged to care for them and to have celebrated this extraordinary milestone with them, and naming our new lounge after them is a fitting gesture to remember such a special couple.”
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