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News in Dover Kent

Together For 81 Years... And Counting

Article published on 27th January 2012

Lionel Buxton aged 100 and his wife Ellen Buxton aged 99. The couple have been together 81 years and married for 76 years - one of the longest married couples in Britain.by Mary Louis

Inseparable after 81 years, Lionel and Ellen Buxton are one of Britain’s oldest married couples.

The marriage at St Margarets Church, Plumstead on July 18 1936 of Lionel Buxton, now aged 99 and his wife Ellen Buxton, aged 100.

The Dover pair were born before the Titanic sank in 1912 and have lived through two world wars.

The marriage certificate from July 18 1936 of Lionel Buxton, now 99, and his wife Ellen Buxton, aged 100

Lionel survived many "narrow squeaks": potentially nasty accidents at work and close shaves in war ravaged London when he served in the Home Guard.

The Centenarian calls her beloved husband her "toy boy", although he is due to catch her up on March 10 when he reaches 100.

At 90, Ellen was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Too old for chemo and radiotherapy, she survived the operation against medical odds.

Lionel has had his own health challenges, yet bright, chatty and dapper, they could be 20 years younger.

Ellen said: "We don’t bother about doctors if we can help it."

The Queen sends them telegrams regularly – so far for their 50th, 60th and 70th wedding anniversaries and for Ellen’s 100th birthday on September 9 2011. Ellen, a royalist, is considering writing back.

The East End pair first met at Henley Cable in north Woolwich. He was an apprentice engineer and she a machinist, often needing his technical help.

They struck up a firm friendship and started dating in 1930, eventually marrying on July 18 1936 at St Margaret’s Church, Plumstead, honeymooning in Hastings.

"We could not marry before, we could not afford it," said Ellen.

Her company would not employ married women so she went to cook in a restaurant.

She can recall George V and Queen Mary on the throne and the First World War.

Ellen said: "I remember sitting on my dad’s window ledge and seeing a zeppelin on fire, although I was far more scared of the doodlebugs in the second war."

Lionel was exempt from the Army and travelled to different factories "to repair the damage done by the Germans overnight."

They bought their first house, a three-bed semi, for £699 on weekly wages of £3. Daughter Cyndy arrived in 1949.

Ellen said: "The war and caring for our own parents took a big slice of our life."

"We have never been apart, other than for work, and have never wanted anyone else" ? Ellen BuxtonLionel went on to work for Crosse and Blackwell, later Nestle. He retired at 64 and after seven years, the Buxton’s moved to Folkestone.

When Cyndy’s first husband Les died unexpectedly, aged just 37, her parents played a crucial part supporting her and her sons.

They have lived in sheltered accommodation in Coombe Valley Road for 23 years, where they look after themselves, with a carer once a week and support from friends.

Ellen said: "We have never been apart, other than for work, and have never wanted anyone else. We always used to go out together. We have been married happily because we have been good friends as well as husband and wife."

"It’s a good job I have got her, she knows everything," said Lionel.

Favourite pursuits include bingo, whist, cards, quizzes and reading. They keenly follow television soaps and sport, including darts, snooker and football.

They will celebrate Lionel’s century at home with friends, daughter Cyndy and her sons Leon, 38, principal research scientist for Pfizer in Boston, Matthew, 36, who works for Cancer Research, James, 21, a BAE systems engineer and fitness instructor David, 20.

BLOB: Indian-born Bradford couple Karam Chand, 106, and wife Kartari, 99, recently celebrated their 86th wedding anniversary.

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